Colorado Sex Offender Registry & Removal

Colorado Sex Offender Registry at a glance

• In Colorado a variety of sex crime convictions, such as sexual assault and sex trafficking, require the offender to register on the Colorado Sex Offender Registry.
• Registration requires many lifestyle restrictions, puts the offender on a publicly searchable sex offender database and map, takes away certain civil rights, and can make it difficult to find employment and housing.
• The purpose of the Colorado Sex Offender Registry is to inform the public of offenders in their communities in an effort to discourage the offender from committing further sex crimes.
• Removal from the registry is possible for many convicted of sex crimes and involves following strict requirements and specific steps in the petitioning process.
• Some offenders are ineligible for removal and must continually register throughout their lifetimes.
• For those placed on the registry or wanting to be removed from it, retaining an attorney experienced in sex crime defense can help the convicted navigate the system and obtain removal.

What is the Colorado Sex Offender Registry?

In Colorado, many sex crime convictions automatically require adding the offender to the Colorado Sex Offender Registry. The Sex Offender Registration Act of 2002 created the registry and stipulates which temporary or permanent residents of Colorado must register.

Anyone who meets one of the following conditions must register.

• Conviction or release since July 1, 1991:
  They were convicted of, or released after serving a sentence for, a sexual offense or enticement of a child, or internet luring either in Colorado or another state with an equivalent law on or after this date.
• Conviction or release since July 1, 1994:
  They were convicted of unlawful sexual behavior (or another crime involving unlawful sexual behavior) or released from custody for such an offense on or after this date.
• Out-of-state or equivalent offenses:
  They were convicted in another state or jurisdiction of an offense that would require registration there or would require registration if it happened in Colorado.
• Juvenile cases:
  They were adjudicated as a juvenile delinquent or received a deferred juvenile adjudication for an act involving unlawful sexual behavior.

Sex crime convictions requiring registration

The Colorado Division of Criminal Justice categorizes 25 types of sex crimes. For more detailed information, see our webpage, Sex Crimes, Sex Trafficking, Sexual Harassment, and More.

Some examples of the sex crimes requiring the convicted to enroll on the Colorado Sex Offender Registry follow.

Rape, unlawful sexual contact, aggravated sexual assault

These and other sex crimes are Class 2 felonies, which are very serious crimes.

Sex trafficking, sexual assault involving force or threat

These and others are Class 3 felonies.

Non-aggravated sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact

These crimes and others are Class 4 felonies.

Sexual assault on a minor

A sexual assault charge can be a Class 5 felony if the victim is at least 15 but younger than 17 and the assailant is 10 years older than the victim.

Invasion of privacy for sexual gratification

This is a Class 6 felony.

Colorado sex offender registry map

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regularly updates the registry. As of the time of the publishing of this article in late 2025, there were nearly 20,000 registered sex offenders in the state.

Anyone can search for sex offenders in a Colorado community, pinpointing the geographic location of the registered offender. Information includes name, photo, address, description, and a link to the offender’s profile with more information.

Anyone charged with a sex crime will all but certainly want to avoid conviction and having to enroll on the registry.

Sex offender registry requirements

Once someone is added to the registry, their records cannot be sealed or erased. How long a person must remain registered depends on the specific crime committed and other circumstances.

Failure to register as required can result in a Class 6 felony conviction. This carries a fine up to $100,000 and/or up to 18 months in prison.

Sex offenders must register with the local sheriff or police chief in the county or jurisdiction of resident. This can be in Colorado, a different state, and in multiple locations considered their residences.

Registration must occur within five days of the following:

• Release into the community under criminal justice supervision (not imprisoned).
• Notice of registration requirement, if sentenced to community supervision.
• Establishing residence in Colorado, either temporary, permanent, or secondary.

Other requirements apply depending on the circumstance of the convicted.

Registered individuals must check in with law enforcement every year on their birthday to confirm and update information. For those serving time in prison, decisions about release dates are made by the Colorado Department of Corrections. Fewer than 5% of sex offender inmates are granted parole.

Lifetime sex offender registration

Some sex offenders must register every three months for the duration of their lives. These offenders include:

• Those who are designated sexually violent predators.
• Conviction in another state for a sexual offense requiring registration in that state.
• Conviction in another state of an offense that would require sex offender registration in Colorado.
• Those convicted as an adult in Colorado for these reasons:
• Felony sexual assault, first degree felony sexual assault, or second-degree felony sexual assault.
• Sexual assault on a child, including by anyone in a position of trust.
• Incest and aggravated incest.
• Sexual assault of a client by a psychotherapist.

Restrictions on registered sex offenders

A registry appearance can result in serious consequences. These include the loss of certain civil rights and making day-to-day life, such as finding employment and securing housing, extremely difficult.

Restrictions on registered offenders vary according to the offense. A registered sex offender is banned from certain kinds of jobs, such as in schools or daycare centers. Registered offenders must also stay a certain distance away from places children are likely to be present, such as parks and schools.

Purpose of sex offender registry in Colorado

The registry is designed as a public safety tool with the primary purpose of informing citizens and communities about convicted sex offenders living, working, or attending school in the area. The registry:

• Raises public awareness, giving residents access to information so they can take precautions for themselves and their families.
• Helps law enforcement track known offenders and identify suspects when new crimes occur.
• Supports accountability by requiring offenders to regularly check in with authorities, update their addresses, and follow strict rules.

 

Discouraging sex offender recidivism

The registry is based on the belief that increased visibility and monitoring will discourage repeat offenses. Knowing that their names, addresses, and offenses are accessible online may discourage offenders from committing new crimes.

The registry also puts social pressure on the offender and in turn reduces the likelihood of sex recidivism (recommitting crime after a conviction). Mandatory re-registration and police check-ins remind offenders that they are being monitored. To what degree mandatory sex offender registration reduces recidivism is debatable. The United States Department of Justice reports that research results are mixed on sex crime recidivism.

Removal from sex offender registry (sex offender deregistration)

Removal from the Colorado Sex Offender Registry is possible for many individuals and highly desirable for moving forward without a very public stigma. Doing so requires meeting strict eligibility requirements and following a detailed legal process, which is best handled by a lawyer experienced in these procedures.

However, those required to register for their lifetimes are not eligible for removal from the sex offender registry.

On the other hand, those eligible for deregistration must first meet specific requirements. These include completing court ordered therapy, having only one conviction, and not being convicted of unlawful sexual behavior since release.

Sex offender deregistration, step-by-step

Many qualified to deregister from the Colorado Sex Offender Registry do not follow the proper steps and fail to be removed. An attorney experienced in sex crimes can direct the execution of the necessary steps more effectively than the convicted. Here are the steps:

• Gather records of conviction, sentencing and completion of court ordered requirements, such as certificates from therapy or treatment programs.
• Complete forms, mainly the Petition to Discontinue Sex Offender Registration, Notice of Hearing on Petition, Order to Discontinue Sex Offender Registration, and Certificate of Mailing.
• File the petition with the same court where the offender was convicted or adjudicated. There is no filing fee for this process.
• Notify the prosecutor in the conviction by sending a copy of the petition by certified mail.
• File proof of service with the court, attaching a certified mail receipt.
• Attend the hearing the court schedules, where the offender shows that they meet all legal requirements and do not pose a risk to public safety. The judge will consider the case and any objections from the prosecutor or victims.
• If approved, the court will sign an order discontinuing the offender’s registration requirement. The offender provides a copy of this order to all law enforcement agencies where they are registered and to the CBI.

Eligibility for sex offender registry removal

According to Section 16-22-113, Colorado Revised Statute, those convicted of the following offenses are eligible for removal.

Class 1, 2, or 3 felony sex crime convictions

Eligible for removal 20 years after:

• Discharge from incarceration or release from commitment to the Department of Human Services (DHS).
• Final release from the jurisdiction of the court.

Class 4, 5, or 6 felony, Class 1 misdemeanor of unlawful sexual contact, or third-degree sexual assault

Eligible for removal 10 years after:

• Discharge from incarceration or release from commitment to the DHS.
• Final release from the jurisdiction of the court.

All other misdemeanor sex crimes

Eligible for removal five years after final release from the jurisdiction of the court.

Deferred judgment, sentence, or adjudication

Upon successful completion of the sentence, provided the court did not issue an order requiring continued registration.

Under age 18 at the time of adjudication

Upon successful completion of the sentence, provided the court did not issue an order requiring continued registration.

Failure to register for Colorado Sex Offender Registry

After full compliance with all registration requirements for at least one year. A petition may be filed only to discontinue posting on the internet for failure to register.

A Denver defense attorney with sex crime experience is essential

The future of anyone facing placement on the Colorado Sex Offender Registry is in serious jeopardy. Removal from it is the goal for all of those required to register. Denver sex crimes attorney Christopher T. Braddock can help protect your future.

For more than 20 years, Mr. Braddock has been defending clients against sex crime charges and working with them to successfully be removed from the registry. He understands the challenges of avoiding conviction, being placed on the registry, and the steps to take to be removed from it.

For those facing these issues, it is essential to be represented by a Colorado defense attorney who knows the system and how to ensure his clients attain all their rights.