Colorado Sex Offender Rules – 4 That You Need To Know

If you have been ordered to register as a sex offender in Colorado following a criminal conviction, you need to know the rules about:

• 1. When to Register
• 2. Length of Registration
• 3. What the Public Sees
• 4. Failing to Register

In this article I explain what you need to know about these four issues. Also listen to our informative podcast on the subject:

1. When to Register

In most cases, Colorado sex offender registration laws require you to update your information with the county sheriff once a year within five business days of your birthday. However, you must re-register every three months (four times a year) if either:

1. You have been classified as a sexually violent predator (SVP); or
2. You have been convicted out-of-state, and your conviction would require quarterly registration in Colorado; or
3. You have been convicted as an adult in Colorado of either:

• Felony sexual assault;
• Sexual assault on a child;
• Sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust;
• Sexual assault on a child by a psychotherapist;
• Incest; or
• Aggravated incest.

You must also re-register any time you:

• Change or add an address;
• Move your trailer or motor home; or
• Legally change your name.

In addition, you must re-register when you study or begin working at an institution of higher education. You must then re-register whenever you change your work status or location at the institution.¹

2. Length of Registration

Once you have registered as a sex offender for the minimum required years in your case, you may then be eligible for removal.

Once you are eligible for removal from the registry, you must complete this “Discontinue Sex Offender Registration” form and notify:

• The police agency you are required to register with; and
• The prosecutor in the jurisdiction of that law enforcement agency; and
• The prosecutor who was assigned to your case.

If you are a Colorado resident, you do not need to pay a filing fee. However, there may be fees for obtaining records.²

3. What the Public Sees

If you are a sex offender in Colorado and have been convicted of a felony, Colorado’s sex offender registry website shows the following information about you:

• Name and aliases
• Date of birth
• Residential address and county
• Vehicles
• Custody status
• Headshot
• Gender
• Race
• Height and weight
• Hair and eye color
• Scars, marks, and tattoos
• Dates of crimes and conviction
• Whether you are an SVP
• Modus operandi information (details of predatory habits), if known
• Whether you ever violated registration requirements before

This information can also be posted on the websites of local law enforcement agencies.³

4. Failing to Register

Failure to register as a sex offender is a class 6 felony in Colorado if the underlying sex offense is a felony. Penalties include:

• 1 to 1 ½ years in Colorado State Prison and/or
• $1,000 to $100,000.

A second or subsequent offense is a class 5 felony. The punishments include:

• 1 to 3 years in prison and/or
• $1,000 to $100,000.

Meanwhile, failure to register is an extraordinary risk class 1 misdemeanor if you were convicted of a misdemeanor sex offense. The sentence is:

• 6 to 18 months in jail and/or
• Up to $1,000.⁴

Convictions for failing to register will also be noted on your registry profile page.

Additional Resources

For more information, refer to the following:

• Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) – The state agency that provides forensic, investigative, and criminal justice support to law enforcement.
• Colorado Department of Corrections – The state agency responsible for managing prisons and supervising parolees.
• Colorado Sex Offender Management Board – The regulatory body that sets treatment and supervision standards for sex offenders.
• Colorado Sex Offender Registration Unit – The state office that oversees the registration and tracking of sex offenders.
• Colorado Department of Public Safety – The agency that coordinates law enforcement, emergency response, and criminal justice services.
• Colorado Office of Community Corrections – The state agency that oversees alternatives to incarceration, such as halfway houses and reentry programs.

Also see our related articles on Colorado’s Sex Offender Intensive Supervision Program (SOISP), residency restrictions on sex offenders, and travel restrictions on sex offenders.

Legal References