The terms “expungement” and “sealing” are often confused in Colorado. Most criminal records may be sealed by a court, but an expungement is for persons arrested under mistaken identity. Unlike a petition to seal, a person seeking to expungement is not subject to any fees or costs associated with expunging the record. If a person has been charged with a crime and not based on a mistaken identity, the proper process is to seek a sealing as opposed to an expungement.
