Megan’s Law for Colorado

Megan’s Law for Colorado

updated 9/30/2024

Contact Person: Kristie Mahler (303) 239-4222
Offenders Required to Register:
Adult and juvenile sex offenders convicted in the state of Colorado on or after July 1, 1991 for sex offenses against children.Any person who was convicted on or after July 1, 1991, in another state or jurisdiction, including but not limited to a military or federal jurisdiction, of an offense that, if committed in Colorado, would constitute and unlawful sexual offense, enticement of a child, or intent luring of a child.Any person who was released on or after July 1, 1991, from the custody of the department of corrections of this state or any other state, having served a sentence for an unlawful sexual offense, enticement of a child, or internet luring of a child.On and after July 1, 1994, any person who is convicted in the state of Colorado of unlawful sexual behavior or of another offense, the underlying factual basis of which involves unlawful sexual behavior, or any person who is released from the custody of the department of corrections having completed serving a sentence for unlawful sexual behavior or for another offense, the underlying factual basis of which involved unlawful sexual behavior, shall be required to register.

(a) In addition to the persons specified in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, and except as set forth in subsection (3)(b) of this section, any person convicted of an offense in any other state or jurisdiction, including but not limited to a military or federal jurisdiction, for which the person, as a result of the conviction, is required to register if the person resided in the state or jurisdiction of conviction, or for which the person would be required to register if convicted in Colorado, is required to register in the manner specified in section 16-22-108, so long as the person is a temporary or permanent resident of Colorado. The person may petition the court for an order to discontinue the requirement for registration in this state at the times specified in section 16-22-113 for offense classifications that are comparable to the classification of the offense for which the person was convicted in the other state or jurisdiction. The person may petition the court for an order to discontinue the requirement for registration in this state for offense classifications that the person would not be required to register for if convicted in Colorado.

(b) If a juvenile is required to register only pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section and the juvenile’s duty to register in another state or jurisdiction has been terminated by a court order, or if a trial court has determined that the juvenile is not required to register in that state or jurisdiction, then the juvenile is not required to fulfill the requirements for registration in Colorado, as set forth in section 16-22-108, and is therefore not required to petition the court for removal from the Colorado sex offender registry pursuant to section 16-22-113.

Information Collected: Fingerprints, (fingerprint cards are produced in the state of Colorado), palm prints, photo, other identifying information including place of employment, registered vehicles, and employment or attendance at institutions of post-secondary education. Any person who is required to register and who has been convicted of a child sex crime is required to register all e-mail addresses, instant-messaging identities, or chat room identities prior to use.
Administrating Agency: Colorado Bureau of Investigation, local law enforcement
Timeframe for Registration: Within 5 business days of becoming a temporary or permanent resident; 5 business days of changing address.
Applies to Out of State Offenders: Yes
Duration of Requirement: Sexually violent predators must re-register quarterly for lifeIf you were convicted as an adult in Colorado of any of the following listed offenses, or if you were convicted in another state or jurisdiction of an offense that requires quarterly registration in that state or jurisdiction, or would require quarterly registration in Colorado you must register for life.Felony Sexual Assault, in violation of section 18-3-402, or Sexual Assault in the First Degree, in violation of section 18-3-402 as it existed prior to July 1, 2000, or Sexual Assault in the Second Degree, in violation of section 18-3-403 as it existed prior to July 1, 2000, or Sexual Assault on a Child in violation of section 18-3-405, or Sexual Assault on a Child by one in a Position of Trust, in violation of section 18-3-405.3, or Sexual Assault on a client by a Psychotherapist, in violation of section 18-3-405.5, or Incest, in violation of section 18-6-301, or Aggravated Incest, in violation of section 18-6-302.Class 1, 2, or 3 felony 20 years from the date of final release from court jurisdiction.Class 4, 5, or 6 felony or class 1 misdemeanor 10 years from the date of final release from court jurisdiction.  Misdemeanors other than a class 1 misdemeanor 5 years from the date of final release from court jurisdiction.
Verification of Address: Yes, by local law enforcement, for those that register a residential address. For those who register as homeless and/or transient, a sex offender's address is not verified by local law enforcement. Instead any sex offender registering as homeless or transient is subject to a self-verification enhanced reporting process. If the offender is required to register with local law enforcement quarterly, they must self-verify their status monthly with local law enforcement. If the offender is required to register with local law enforcement annually, they must self-verify their status quarterly with local law enforcement.
Penalties for Non-Compliance: If the offender is convicted of a felony sex offense, felony failure to register charges are filed, if sex offense for which offender is required to register was a misdemeanor, misdemeanor charges are filed for failure to register.
Access to Information: The public has access to information on registered sexual offenders in their local jurisdiction through their local law enforcement agency or the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Lists of offenders in other jurisdictions are (may be - remove) available through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.  Public website contains four categories of offenders which are posted per Colorado statute (excludes those convicted of misdemeanors and those convicted as juveniles).  (Or by the public Colorado Sex Offender web site - I would completely remove this sentence) . In Colorado, the SOR information is considered a public record.

Colorado law recently changed as of September 1, 2021, limiting access to information on registered sex offenders only adjudicated of a juvenile sex offense.  The public can no longer request the rap sheet of a juvenile offender to find out if the individual is a "Registered sex offender".  CBI and local law enforcement are no longer able to release information on individuals adjudicated as a juvenile for a sex offense on a list of registered sex offenders released to the public.  Local law enforcement are no longer allowed to post certain categories of juveniles on their website.  CBI has never been able to post juvenile sex offender information on our website.  The public is able to request information on a specified named juvenile, to find out if they are a registered sex offender.  There is a form they must fill out, and they must declare their need for the information.

Confidentiality Provision: No (except nonfeasance, etc.)
Number Registered: 19,380 as of 9/30/2024
We have removed a lot of juveniles from the registry over the last year due to new CO legislation
Percent Compliance: Not known
Internet Access: Colorado Sex Offender Registry

Violent sexual predators, multiple offenders, and Individuals who have failed to register and adult felony convictions requiring registration.)We do not post misdemeanor or juvenile convictions.