A coffee shop located on Colfax street operates its business through an employment application process. The manager appears friendly while the work hours fit my schedule and the salary will enable me to pay for my Aurora apartment. The form requires you to report any previous criminal records you have. Your throat tightens. A previous legal matter from my past which I have already gained knowledge from now blocks my path toward starting fresh. Sound familiar?

The passage of time does not create opportunities for people to receive second chances. People who want to change the system need to find their voice while they fight for equal regulations and assist each other through the current procedures. That’s advocacy. Through the power of Colorado’s system it creates an opportunity which transforms the existence of both you and your local community members including your children.

What “Advocacy” Really Means

Advocacy isn’t only folks in suits at the Capitol. It’s anyone who stands up for a fair shot. According to a recent Lawbit Digest article, “If the district attorney objects or a hearing is required, skilled legal representation makes a difference. Attorneys know what judges find persuasive and how to present your case most effectively”.

Everyday Advocacy

A friend drives you to court, helps you fill out a record-sealing petition, and reminds you of deadlines. That’s advocacy.

Community Advocacy

A local group hosts a free clinic on West Colfax, helping people seal dismissed cases. They print forms, provide snacks, and walk you through each line. That’s advocacy too.

Policy Advocacy

Neighbors, pastors, and small business owners tell lawmakers, “We need fair hiring and cleaner background checks.” Laws start to shift. That’s advocacy on a bigger stage.

You don’t have to pick just one. In Colorado, these three lanes often run side by side—and when they do, doors open.

The Roadblocks People Face After a Case

Let’s be honest. Second chances sound simple. In real life, it’s more like a maze.

Jobs That Disappear After a Background Check

You ace the interview. Then HR runs a check, and the offer vanishes. The court decision ended the case but the outdated information continues to exist in the system. You can feel lost because of this situation but there are ways to move forward. The state of Colorado allows people to seal their dismissed cases together with their finished deferred judgments and specific past convictions after they wait for a certain period. The process of advocacy works to distribute information which enables people to hide their previous property records.

Housing Headaches

Landlords in Denver, Lakewood, and Greeley all have their own screening rules. A minor case from a decade ago can still spook a property manager. Community advocates push for fairer rental screening and teach tenants how to show proof that records were sealed.

Licenses and Red Tape

Want to work as a barber, CNA, or electrician? Licensing boards sometimes ask about past cases. In recent years, Colorado has made it easier for people to get licensed if they’ve turned things around. That happened because people told real stories at public hearings. Advocacy made the difference.

ID, Transportation, and Fines

No one talks about this enough. Missed court dates and unpaid tickets can snowball into holds on your license. Now you can’t drive to work or to Poudre Valley Hospital for physical therapy. Advocates help you figure out payment plans, clear holds, and keep moving.

Colorado’s Second-Chance Landscape Is Better—Because People Pushed

Here’s a surprising detail: Colorado has automatic sealing for some old, low-level records and non-convictions. It doesn’t catch everything, and it’s not instant, but it’s real progress. There are also fair-chance rules for job applications that limit early questions about your record. And marijuana laws shifted, which helped some older cases.

None of that dropped out of the sky. It came from years of people sharing their stories—from Five Points to Pueblo—showing lawmakers that a single mistake shouldn’t be a life sentence to low pay and closed doors.

How Advocacy Helps One Person at a Time

Big changes are great, but what happens on a Tuesday afternoon when you need help right now?

Getting Records Sealed

An advocate helps you pull your Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) history, match case numbers, and file in the right county. They know which clerk’s window to visit at the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse and which forms to bring for a fee waiver. That can shave months off the process.

Dealing With Background Check “Ghosts”

Even after a judge seals a case, some websites lag. An advocate shows you how to send the sealing order to those sites and request updates. It’s not glamorous, but it works.

Lining Up Work and Training

Community groups can connect you with employers who actually believe in second chances. Some even run job fairs where record-friendly businesses come ready to hire. You walk in with a plan, not just a handshake.

Real Colorado Stories (Names Changed, Lessons Real)

Jasmine from Greeley had a shoplifting case that was dismissed years ago. Still, every apartment near her son’s school kept saying no. A volunteer at a record-sealing clinic helped her file the right petition. Thirty days later, the order came through. When the next landlord ran a check, the case didn’t show. She signed a lease the same week.

Marcus in Pueblo finished probation on a low-level felony and stayed out of trouble for years. He wanted to move up at the warehouse but kept getting stuck at the background stage. His advocate helped gather letters from his supervisor and church, mapped out the waiting periods, and filed to seal what was eligible. The judge approved it. Two months later, Marcus was promoted and training new hires.

Tina in Colorado Springs had no car and a license hold from unpaid tickets. She kept missing interviews on the north side because the bus transfers took forever. A reentry group helped her set up a payment plan and clear the hold. They also covered her first month of insurance so she could drive legally to work. Small steps, big impact.

Where to Find Advocates (Yes, Right Here in Colorado)

You don’t need to search for hours. Start local.

• Reentry organizations in Aurora and Denver run regular clinics. They’ll help you read your record, explain waiting periods, and draft petitions.
• Legal aid groups hold workshops—often at libraries along the Front Range—so you can fill out forms with someone sitting next to you, not just a website.
• Community mentors connect you with GED classes, job training, and mental health support, because healing is part of the process too.

When in doubt, call your county court clerk and ask, “Do you have forms or a clinic for sealing records?” They can’t give legal advice, but they’ll point you in the right direction.

Why Policy Advocacy Still Matters

Some problems can’t be fixed one person at a time. We need better rules. That’s where policy advocacy comes in.

Fair-Chance Hiring

Businesses which wait to perform background checks until after job interviews and concentrate on recent relevant information provide equal opportunities to all candidates. The state of Colorado has taken action toward this direction because workers together with employers and members of the community have continuously pushed for change.

Smarter Background Checks

Automatic sealing for old, low-level records means folks aren’t haunted forever by mistakes that no longer reflect who they are. Expanding and improving those systems takes ongoing advocacy to make sure agencies actually update their data.

Reasonable Licensing Rules

When boards consider who you are now—not just who you were during your worst week—families gain steady income and our communities get more skilled workers. That’s a win for everyone.

“But Wait… What If I Mess Up Again?”

Second chances aren’t about being perfect. They’re about growth. If you miss a step, advocacy can help you get back on track. Maybe a mentor checks in twice a week. Maybe you switch shifts so you can make counseling on time. Maybe your support circle gets a little bigger. It’s okay to ask for help before things slide.

A Neighborly Send-Off

Second chances in Colorado aren’t just a law or a slogan. They’re built by people—by you, me, and the folks pouring coffee on Santa Fe Drive at 6 a.m. Advocacy is how we turn, “I hope it gets better,” into, “Here’s the plan.”