A computer-implemented system and method for identifying call recordings for retention is provided. A call is received into a call center and assigned to one of an agent and an interactive voice response device. A recording of the assigned call is generated. A set of call retention criteria is maintained and each of the retention criteria is associated with one or more time periods during which the criteria can be applied to the call recording. A portion of the criteria in the set is identified based on a time at which the criteria is to be applied to the call recording. The identified criteria is applied to the call recording and the call recording is stored when the applied criteria are satisfied.