HB 18-1344: Relief from Collateral Consequences of Criminal Actions

• Courts may grant orders of collateral relief to defendants at conviction or any time thereafter to relieve employment, housing, and other collateral consequences of conviction, with the purpose of improving likelihood of community reintegration.

• Applicants must submit a recent Colorado Bureau of Investigation fingerprint-based criminal history record check; applications filed after sentencing require an additional $30 filing fee (waivable if indigent).

• Collateral relief is prohibited for felonies where a victim suffered serious bodily injury with permanent impairment, crimes of violence as defined in statute, and sex offender registration requirements.

• Courts must notify the Colorado Bureau of Investigation of issued collateral relief orders, and may revoke relief upon evidence of subsequent conviction or if the defendant no longer qualifies.

• The law extends identical collateral relief provisions to adjudicated juveniles under a new section 19-2-927, with courts required to notify defendants in presentence investigation reports of their right to apply for relief (except for certain serious offenses).