How Long Can Domestic Violence Stay on Your Record in Colorado?

If you’re asking how long a domestic violence charge stays on your record, the short answer is stark: In Colorado, domestic violence convictions remain on your criminal record permanently and cannot be sealed or expunged. Arrests or charges that do not result in conviction may be eligible for sealing, often automatically or by petition. Colorado’s record-sealing laws do provide opportunities to limit public access to these records under certain circumstances, but the process and eligibility requirements vary considerably depending on whether you were convicted.

How Long Do Domestic Violence Charges Stay on Your Record in Colorado?

Domestic violence convictions in Colorado remain on your criminal record permanently and cannot be sealed. Charges that do not result in conviction may be eligible for sealing. This applies primarily to convictions, which are not eligible for sealing. Arrests and charges without conviction may be sealed, often automatically, and the process differs substantially between arrests and convictions. While arrests without conviction may be eligible for sealing, domestic violence convictions cannot be sealed under Colorado law.

Understanding the Difference Between Arrests and Convictions on Your Record

Arrest records for domestic violence may appear on background checks, but Colorado law generally requires automatic sealing if charges are dismissed or not filed. When you’re arrested for domestic violence, an arrest record is created that includes the charges filed; however, if prosecutors decline to file charges or charges are dismissed, those arrest records are often eligible for sealing under state law. This distinction affects how the record will appear to employers, landlords, and licensing boards.

Convictions represent a finding of guilt and carry serious long-term consequences. Domestic violence convictions cannot be sealed under Colorado law. These convictions, whether resulting from a plea agreement or a trial verdict, create more permanent marks on your criminal history and are treated very differently by courts when considering sealing petitions.

The distinction matters because Colorado courts treat these situations differently when considering sealing petitions. An arrest that did not result in conviction suggests the evidence was not strong enough to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, or that prosecutorial discretion led to dismissal. A conviction, however, represents a legal determination of guilt that creates a more permanent mark on your record.

Public Access and Background Check Visibility

Colorado criminal records are generally considered public information, meaning employers, landlords, professional licensing boards, and other entities can access them through standard background check procedures. Most commercial background check companies routinely search Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) records and court databases, which means both arrests and convictions will typically appear on these reports unless they have been successfully sealed.

According to data from the Professional Background Screening Association, 97 percent of employers conduct some form of criminal history check in their employment screening process. This widespread screening means your domestic violence record will likely surface during most job applications, regardless of how old the charges are or whether they resulted in conviction.

The visibility of your domestic violence record extends beyond simple employment screening. Educational institutions, professional licensing boards, immigration authorities, and firearms licensing agencies all have access to this information. Even records that are old or resulted in dismissal will continue to appear on these searches, potentially affecting housing applications, job opportunities, professional certifications, and other life opportunities for decades.

Colorado provides for automatic sealing in some circumstances (for example, dismissed charges), but for convictions or other outcomes, active legal intervention is usually required. This means you cannot simply wait for your record to disappear in all cases—you may need to take deliberate steps through the court system to achieve privacy protection for certain records.

Colorado’s Record Sealing Options for Domestic Violence Cases

Colorado law allows for the sealing of criminal records under specific circumstances, but domestic violence cases face unique restrictions that don’t apply to other criminal charges. The sealing requirements vary considerably depending on your case outcome:

• Arrests without conviction: Arrest records for charges that are dismissed or where no charges are filed may be eligible for sealing. In many cases, Colorado law requires automatic sealing. If a case proceeded to dismissal or acquittal, there may be a statutory waiting period or a petition process to complete the sealing.
• Arrests requiring court demonstration: You must show that sealing serves the interests of justice and that public harm from continued disclosure outweighs the presumption favoring public access to records.
• Domestic violence convictions: Many offenses classified as “crimes of violence” under Colorado law remain permanently ineligible for sealing, regardless of sentence completion.
• Eligible convictions: For eligible convictions (not including domestic violence), you typically must wait three to five years after completing your entire sentence, including probation, before petitioning for sealing.
• Protection order violations: Convictions involving restraining order violations face additional complications that may further limit sealing eligibility.

The court maintains discretion to deny sealing petitions even when technical requirements are met, considering factors like rehabilitation efforts, offense nature, subsequent criminal history, and public safety concerns. Even successful sealing does not guarantee complete privacy, as certain government agencies may retain access to sealed records for specific purposes.

Employment and Housing Impact of Domestic Violence Records

The presence of domestic violence charges or convictions on your record can create substantial barriers to employment and housing opportunities that persist for years or even decades. Many employers conduct background checks as part of their hiring process, and domestic violence records often raise concerns about workplace safety, trustworthiness, and liability issues. This is particularly true for positions involving customer contact, financial responsibility, or working with vulnerable populations like children or elderly individuals.

Employers may worry about potential workplace violence, liability if an incident occurs, or negative publicity if they hire someone with a domestic violence record. These concerns can lead to immediate disqualification from consideration, regardless of your qualifications or how long ago the incident occurred. The impact is often more severe for domestic violence charges compared to other criminal offenses because they involve interpersonal violence and suggest potential behavioral issues that could affect workplace dynamics.

Housing applications frequently include criminal background checks, and landlords may be hesitant to rent to individuals with domestic violence records due to concerns about tenant safety and property liability. Property managers often worry about domestic disputes occurring on their premises, potential damage to property, or other tenants feeling unsafe. Even arrests without conviction can create these barriers, as landlords and employers may not distinguish between arrests and actual convictions when making decisions.

The cumulative effect of these restrictions can limit your housing options to less desirable areas or properties, potentially affecting your family’s stability and your ability to maintain employment. This creates a cycle where the record continues to impact multiple areas of your life.

Collateral Consequences Beyond Employment and Housing

Domestic violence records can trigger numerous long-term consequences that extend far beyond criminal penalties and basic employment difficulties:

• Professional licensing restrictions: Healthcare, education, finance, and law enforcement licensing boards may deny or revoke licenses based on domestic violence arrests or convictions, potentially barring entire career fields.
• Immigration consequences: Non-citizens face deportation proceedings, naturalization denials, or inability to obtain legal status, as domestic violence convictions may qualify as crimes involving moral turpitude under federal law.
• Federal firearms prohibition: Domestic violence misdemeanor convictions permanently prohibit firearm possession under federal law, affecting law enforcement, military, and security career options.
• Educational limitations: Some educational institutions and scholarship programs exclude applicants with domestic violence records, limiting academic and career advancement opportunities.
• Military service restrictions: Domestic violence convictions can disqualify individuals from military enlistment or result in discharge from active duty.

These consequences often persist even after completing all court-ordered requirements and may continue even if state records are eventually sealed. The restrictions create cascading effects that can limit opportunities across multiple life areas simultaneously, making comprehensive legal planning necessary for anyone facing domestic violence charges.

Taking Action to Minimize Long-Term Record Impact

Given the permanent nature of domestic violence convictions in Colorado, understanding your options for minimizing their long-term impact becomes critical for protecting your future opportunities. Your approach should vary depending on whether you’re currently facing charges or dealing with existing records:

• During active cases: Work with an experienced Denver domestic violence lawyer to negotiate charge reductions to non-violent offenses, pursue diversion programs, or fight for dismissal or acquittal at trial.
• Plea negotiation strategy: Avoid pleading guilty to domestic violence charges classified as crimes of violence, and when negotiating pleas consult a Denver domestic violence attorney who understands sealing consequences and long-term impacts.
• Existing record evaluation: Consult with a domestic violence lawyer about current sealing eligibility, as the petition process involves complex legal requirements and strict deadlines.
• Future planning: Understand eligibility dates for when relief might become possible, even if immediate sealing isn’t available.
• Alternative relief options: Consider pursuing pardons through the governor’s office for exceptional circumstances, though this process is highly discretionary and doesn’t remove convictions from record.

The strategy you choose during your case can greatly affect your long-term options, making early legal consultation necessary. Even when you meet basic eligibility requirements, procedural errors in sealing petitions can still result in denial, emphasizing the importance of proper legal guidance throughout the process.

Key Takeaways — Why This Matters Now

• Domestic violence convictions remain permanent: Domestic violence convictions in Colorado remain visible on public criminal history reports and cannot be sealed. Arrests and charges without conviction may be eligible for sealing, often automatically.
• Arrests vs. convictions: Arrests and convictions are treated differently; arrests without conviction are often easier to seal than convictions.
• Major collateral consequences: Employment, housing, licensing, immigration, and firearm rights can all be affected long after court sentences end.
• Act early and get counsel: Work with an experienced attorney to pursue the best immediate and long-term strategies—this is the single most important step to protect your future.

If you or someone you know is dealing with a domestic violence arrest or conviction in Colorado, seek a domestic violence attorney promptly to evaluate sealing options, plea strategies, and long-term planning.

Do You Need Legal Help with Your Colorado Criminal Charges?

If you or someone you love is facing criminal charges in Colorado, don’t wait — contact the Colorado criminal defense lawyers at Prager Law today. Criminal charges are terrifying, and you deserve more than a cookie-cutter defense. At Prager Law, we provide personalized legal representation backed by real trial experience and insider knowledge of how prosecutors think.

Founding attorney Steve Prager is a former supervisor in the El Paso County District Attorney’s Office. He’s handled more than forty jury trials and trained new prosecutors — giving him rare insight into how cases are built and, more importantly, where they fall apart. That experience can be the difference between a conviction and a second chance.

Call 303-483-4452 or contact us online to discuss your case. We’ll review your situation, explain your legal options, and start building a strategic defense — one built just for you.