Breckenridge defense firm explains Colorado record sealing under Clean Slate Act

Law Offices of J.B. Katz, P.C. is outlining how Colorado residents can seek record sealing under the Clean Slate Act, including automatic sealing timelines, eligibility limits and the long-term impact of case outcomes. The guidance is aimed at people in Breckenridge, Dillon, Frisco and nearby mountain communities who may be pursuing jobs, housing or professional licenses.

Why it matters: - Record sealing can limit public access to eligible criminal records and may improve access to employment, housing and professional licensing. - The Clean Slate Act has expanded automatic sealing in Colorado, but not every record qualifies. - Case outcomes can affect whether a person can later seal a record, making early legal decisions important.

What happened: - Law Offices of J.B. Katz, P.C., a Breckenridge criminal defense firm, is sharing guidance on Colorado record sealing under state law. - Attorney Jeri Beth Katz is directing the information to residents of Breckenridge, Dillon, Frisco and surrounding mountain communities. - The firm is explaining which records may qualify, how the sealing process works and what limitations still apply.

The details: - Record sealing generally prevents eligible criminal records from appearing in standard public background searches. - A sealed record may allow a person to answer certain questions about criminal history as though the case had not occurred, subject to Colorado exceptions. - Sealing does not destroy the record. - Courts, law enforcement agencies and some other authorized parties can still access sealed records. - Colorado uses the term record sealing for adult criminal records. - Expungement is a separate process that mainly applies to eligible juvenile records and a few other limited situations. - Colorado's Clean Slate Act, Senate Bill 22-099, was signed into law in 2022. - Automatic sealing provisions began taking effect in 2024. - The law created a process for identifying and sealing certain eligible records without requiring a traditional court petition. - Eligible convictions go through review in the state court system. - Prosecutors may object when the law allows. - Some arrests that did not lead to charges may qualify for sealing under separate procedures. - Cases ending in dismissal or acquittal may also qualify under separate statutory rules. - Eligible convictions generally face waiting periods of four years for civil infractions, seven years for petty offenses and misdemeanors, and 10 years for felonies. - Those waiting periods still depend on other statutory requirements. - Not all offenses qualify for automatic sealing. - Some convictions remain ineligible. - Dismissals, acquittals and successful diversion programs can affect sealing eligibility differently than convictions. - Deferred judgments can have their own eligibility rules depending on the offense and final result.

Between the lines: - The Clean Slate Act reduces the need for some people to file petitions, but the law still leaves room for case-by-case review. - For anyone facing criminal charges, the final disposition can shape future sealing options long after the case ends. - The firm is positioning record sealing as part of broader criminal defense strategy, not just a post-case cleanup step.

What's next: - People seeking sealing will still need to review the offense, case disposition, criminal history and statutory requirements. - Eligibility will continue to depend on the facts of each case, even with automatic sealing in place. - Law Offices of J.B. Katz, P.C. says it will continue helping eligible individuals pursue sealing and expungement matters. - The firm, led by Jeri Beth Katz, continues to represent clients in DUI, assault, vehicular homicide, domestic violence, drug offenses, probation violations, juvenile charges and other criminal matters.

The bottom line: - Colorado has made record sealing easier for some people, but eligibility is still limited and highly fact-specific.