Colorado Mugshot Removal & Expungement Guide
How mugshot removal, expungement, and record sealing actually work under Colorado law.
Colorado's mugshot-related law works differently than you might expect: C.R.S. § 24-72-305.5 doesn't directly order mugshot websites to remove a photo. Instead, it makes it a misdemeanor (fine up to $1,000) to obtain a booking photo from a government records custodian while knowing it will be posted to a site that charges a removal fee, and requires custodians to collect a signed statement to that effect from requesters. It's an access restriction upstream of the mugshot site, not a direct removal mandate on the site itself.
Colorado's sealing process (C.R.S. §§ 24-72-703 to -706) ties waiting periods to offense classification, with several categories excluded entirely.
- Petty offenses / infractions: 1 year after final disposition
- Class 2-3 misdemeanors and drug misdemeanors: 2 years
- Class 1 misdemeanors: 3 years
- Class 4-6 felonies and drug felonies (levels 3-4): 3 years
- Other felonies (Class 1-3): 5 years
Locate every copy of your mugshot online
Colorado arrest records are commonly scraped and republished across multiple commercial aggregators, sometimes before the access restriction can take effect.
Send a direct removal request to each publisher
Since Colorado's law targets records custodians rather than sites directly, a documented direct request to the publisher is still your starting point.
Pursue search-engine de-indexing where a site won't cooperate
This is often the more reliable path once a photo has already been posted.
Pursue sealing for the underlying record where eligible
This restricts future public access, though it doesn't retroactively force a site to remove an already-published photo.
We handle removal cases in Colorado the same way we handle every case: locating every copy of your mugshot online, filing takedown requests within 72 hours, pursuing search-engine de-indexing where publishers won't cooperate, and monitoring afterward for reappearances. Every case starts with a free analysis, backed by a 100% money-back guarantee.
State law affects your legal options, but it doesn't determine which website is publishing your mugshot. See our site-by-site removal directory for site-specific removal steps once you know where your listing is.
This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Laws summarized here are current as of publication but change frequently — consult a licensed attorney in your state before relying on them for your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Colorado law require mugshot sites to remove my photo?
Not directly. C.R.S. § 24-72-305.5 restricts government custodians from releasing your booking photo to a requester known to be posting it to a fee-charging site — it doesn't itself order an existing listing removed.
Is it illegal for a Colorado mugshot site to charge a removal fee?
The statute targets the records-request stage rather than banning fees directly, but obtaining a photo for a fee-charging site under false pretenses can be a misdemeanor.
How long do I have to wait to seal a record in Colorado?
It depends on the offense — from 1 year for petty offenses up to 5 years for more serious felonies, with several violent and sexual offense categories excluded.
How long does mugshot removal take in Colorado?
There's no direct statutory removal deadline, so it depends on the site. Our takedown requests typically go out within 72 hours, with de-indexing following in about 5-7 days.
Get Your Colorado Mugshot Removed
Start with a free analysis — we'll confirm exactly what removal takes under your state's laws.