Juvenile Expungement Attorney in Colorado Springs
Colorado offers juvenile offenders an opportunity to make a fresh start through expungement. Through this process, a juvenile’s record will be destroyed or eliminated, which allows them to be free of criminal wrongdoing. Once the record has been expunged, a juvenile can deny that an adjudication, arrest, or charge ever happened.
Expungement, like every other aspect of the law, is a legal area with numerous intricacies. You will have to go through a complicated and time-consuming process before a juvenile record can be expunged. Your best course of action is to contact an attorney if you wish to have your juvenile record destroyed.
Juveniles should take advantage of their ability to easily expunge their criminal record. Failing to do so may result in employment and higher education issues further down the road. Black, Blink, & Associates, LLC has proven experience assisting clients with juvenile expungement. We will guide you through the process and represent you in court if necessary.
Call 719-694-0578 to schedule a time to meet with us. Black, Blink, & Associates LLC is based in Colorado Springs, but we regularly assist clients with expungement in areas such as Denver and Littleton.
Information Center
- Which Juveniles Can Immediately File for Expungement?
- How Long Do I Have to Wait to Expunge My Juvenile Record?
- Juveniles Who Are Not Eligible for Expungement
- Why You Should Expunge a Juvenile Record
- Additional Resources
Which Juveniles Can Immediately File for Expungement?
Juveniles have an easier time clearing their criminal record than adult offenders. Not only are they granted more opportunities to do so, but some can petition to have their record expunged immediately. One of the following circumstances must be met to be eligible for immediate expungement:
- You were found not guilty at an adjudicatory trial; or
- The case was dismissed; or
- You completed a sentence for a petty offense, a petty drug offense, a class 2 or 3 misdemeanor, or a level 1 or 2 drug misdemeanor; and
- There are no felony, misdemeanor, or delinquency actions pending against you
How Long Do I Have to Wait to Expunge My Juvenile Record?
Juveniles who are not immediately eligible for expungement will have to wait a certain amount of time before petitioning for an order of expungement. The length of the wait depends on elements of your case, such as your criminal history, whether your sentence has been completed, and whether any action was taken after an arrest.
Based on elements of your case, you may have to wait the following lengths of time to expunge a juvenile record:
- One year after you complete a juvenile diversion program or informal adjustment
- One year after being given a ticket or arrested, but no further action was taken
- Five years if you are considered a repeat felony offender or a mandatory sentence offender
Colorado courts only allow you to petition for expungement once a year. If you submit a request and it’s denied, you will have to wait 12 months from the day of your original submission before you can file again. Contact a criminal defense attorney if your petition has been denied. They can resubmit the request and make sure all the necessary information is provided.
Juveniles Who are Not Eligible for Expungement
Juveniles are given more chances to clear their record than adult offenders. That being said, not all delinquent records are eligible for expungement. The more severe the crime, the less likely you are to have it removed.
The following juvenile offenses are not eligible for expungement in Colorado:
- A felony offense involving unlawful sexual behavior as defined in C.R.S. 16-22-102(9).
- Felony Offenses constituting a crime of violence
- Class 1 and 2 Felony offenses
- Repeat felony adjudications
Why You Should Expunge a Juvenile Record
The state understands young people make mistakes. The law hopes that young people will learn from these mistakes, which is why they grant them more opportunities to clean their criminal records than adult offenders.
Having a criminal record at such a young age can have devastating effects on your future. It can impact getting into college, finding a job, and access to housing. Expunging your juvenile record would prevent colleges, prospective employers, and lenders from accessing the record. Not only this, but you can deny that the arrest, charge, or adjudication ever occurred.
You are not required to have an attorney when filing for expungement, but it’s highly recommended. While you can file a petition on your own, you will be expected to comply with complex laws. Your petition will be rejected if you fail to meet these standards. When this happens, you will have to wait 12 months before you can petition again.
Juvenile Expungement Lawyer in Colorado Springs
Petitioning for expungement is not as easy as submitting a form to the court. The chances of your expungement being accepted are greatly increased when you work with an attorney. The legal team at Black, Blink, & Associates LLC knows how important this is for you, which is why we vow to give you our undivided attention.
Our consultations are free, so you have nothing to lose. Call 719-694-0578 to schedule a time to speak with us. We assist clients in areas such as El Paso County, Denver County, and Arapahoe Springs County.