It isn’t often that we get to report that our government has taken steps in the right direction. More often than not, legislation is unjust. The legislature in Colorado has allowed for the sealing of certain offenses from the eyes of hypocritical neighbors and employer background checks in Weld, Morgan and Logan County.
If you have been arrested or convicted of a petty (city or county court) or municipal (city court – not a county court) offense, they you may now be able to seal your record (even if it was a conviction). In the past, convictions in Greeley, Fort Lupton or Wellington couldn’t be sealed. You could only seal records of cases where charges weren’t filed, where your case was dismissed, or in which you were acquitted. Now, if you meet certain qualifications and requirements, you can even seal convictions of certain criminal offenses.
Examples of Sealable Records in Weld, Morgan and Logan County
If you have been convicted of (or arrested for) a petty offense such as MIP (minor in possession of alcohol), disorderly conduct, some traffic offenses, prior marijuana possession offenses, Parks and Outdoor Recreation offenses, and skiing offenses, you may be able to seal your record and be free. They will still be convictions, but they will no longer be accessible by the public. If you haven’t been able to find an apartment or get a job because the manager ran a background check and saw your record – take a deep sigh of relief. You may not face this issue any more.
Do I Meet the Requirements for Record Sealing?
There are requirements and restrictions in order to seal arrest and conviction records for municipal and petty offenses:
- You can’t seal until 3 years after your probation is over.
- You can’t have any felony or misdemeanor charges or convictions since the case.
- The government in Morgan, Weld and Logan County will still be able to see your record.
- Your record will be unsealed if you are arrested or convicted again.
If you did something stupid and were convicted of a city court petty offense years ago, but have since then have had no run-ins with the law, then this legislation regarding record sealing is perfect for you. You’ll be able to start afresh. You can erase those mistakes you made – no one will be able to see that you were charged in a prostitution bust, or were caught possessing marijuana at the University of Northern Colorado.
If you were convicted in the past of a petty or municipal offense in Weld, Morgan or Logan County, contact an experienced record sealing attorney at the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009, or submit the “Get Help Now” form. Together, we can protect your future.
Image Credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net – Stuart Miles