Facing a criminal charge often creates a sense of urgency. Whether you were cited after a night in Breckenridge, arrested near Georgetown, or required to appear in Summit County, you may be concerned about the number of upcoming court dates and how long your case will keep your life on hold. You are likely wondering, “How long does a criminal case take in Colorado?”
A straightforward case may be resolved after a few court hearings, while a contested felony case can remain pending for many months. Colorado does not impose one deadline for the entire criminal case.
What Actually Controls a Colorado Criminal Case Timeline?
The timeline for how long a criminal case takes largely depends on how many stages it must pass through before it is resolved.
The criminal case process may involve arrest or summons, advisement, formal charges, discovery, negotiations, motions, trial, and sentencing. Not all cases reach every stage. Some cases end through dismissal or a negotiated resolution before trial. Certain felonies may be eligible for a preliminary hearing.
A generic “three months” or “six months” estimate can be misleading without reviewing the specific docket and charges.
When Does Colorado’s Six-Month Speedy-Trial Clock Start?
Colorado’s six-month speedy-trial period typically begins when a defendant enters a not-guilty plea, not at the time of arrest. Time may be excluded for competency proceedings, certain appeals, a defendant’s unavailability, some mistrials, or delays requested by the defense. If a trial date is scheduled, a continuance requested by either the prosecution or defense or by stipulation of the parties can reset the six-month period, if ultimately approved by the Court.
Unless an exclusion or extension applies, charges may be dismissed if the defendant is not brought to trial within the statutory timeframe. This protection can be waived if not properly asserted.
The key point is that the speedy-trial deadline applies to the trial, not to the entire case ending within six months of arrest.
How Long Does a Criminal Case Take to Go to Trial?
If a case proceeds to trial, the timing depends on the not-guilty plea date and any legally recognized delays that affect the speedy-trial calculation. Before trial, the defense may need to review discovery such as body-camera footage, 911 recordings, lab results, phone records, or witness statements. Motions may also require written briefs and separate hearings.
These steps may add court dates, but they may be essential to determining what evidence can be used at trial.
If the case is tried to a jury, the stages of a criminal trial include jury selection, opening statements, presentation of evidence, closing arguments, jury instructions, deliberations, and a verdict. Those stages follow the pretrial phase.
What Makes One Case Take Longer Than Another?
The biggest differences come from what must be investigated or decided before resolution is possible. Common timing factors include:
- Amount of discovery. Hours of video, digital records, forensic testing, or multiple witness interviews take time to review.
- Pending evidence. Laboratory testing, medical records, or outside records may not be immediately available.
- Pretrial motions. Challenges involving searches, statements, identification, or other evidence may require hearings.
- Negotiations. Both sides may need to evaluate evidence, criminal history, mitigation, and sentencing exposure before meaningful discussions occur.
- Trial preparation. Witnesses, exhibits, subpoenas, and evidentiary issues require additional preparation when the case cannot be resolved.
The useful question is not whether the case was continued, but what the additional time is being used to accomplish.
Which Felony Hearings Can Affect the Timeline Before Trial?
Felony cases can add procedural steps before arraignment and trial preparation.
Defendants charged with Class 1, 2, or 3 felonies, or Level 1 or 2 drug felonies, generally have the right to request a preliminary hearing. This right also extends to certain defendants charged with Class 4, 5, or 6 felonies, including, in some cases, defendants who remain in custody. Other qualifying felony cases are handled through a dispositional hearing that emphasizes case evaluation and potential resolution. The request for a preliminary hearing must be timely made.
These hearings do not ultimately decide guilt, but they can significantly affect what happens in the case (if it is bound over to District Court and moves forward beyond the preliminary hearing).
Can a Lawyer Help Keep the Case from Stalling?
A defense lawyer cannot control the court calendar, but they can help reduce avoidable delay. That may include requesting missing discovery, identifying evidence that needs investigation, tracking speedy-trial dates, raising necessary motions, and preparing for negotiations or trial before the next deadline.
An effective defense uses the time between settings deliberately instead of allowing the case to linger.
If you are waiting on a court date, ask what specific evidence, task, or decision must happen next. A concrete answer is more useful than “we are waiting.”
When Does a Criminal Case Actually End After a Plea or Verdict?
A plea or verdict does not always end the case immediately. Sentencing may occur later, particularly after most felony convictions because Colorado generally utilizes a presentence investigation with submission of written report before sentencing. However, the court can dispense with the report with the concurrence of both sides. A subsequent alcohol related driving plea may also require continuance of sentencing so that an alcohol evaluation with sentencing recommendations can be completed prior to the sentencing hearing.
We Help You Understand What Happens Next in Your Colorado Case
The most useful timeline is built from your charge, court, discovery status, plea date, and upcoming hearings.
At The Law Offices of Susan Deschler, you work directly with Susan, a former Deputy District Attorney for County Court in Clear Creek County with more than 25 years of legal experience.
If your case is moving from court date to court date without clear answers, contact our office for a confidential consultation and a clearer picture of what comes next.
Legal References Used to Inform This Page:
To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal and other resources during the content development process:
- Colorado District Attorneys’ Council. The Process.
- Colorado Revised Statutes 2025. Title 18, Criminal Code.
- Speedy trial, C.R.S. § 18-1-405.
- Colorado Judicial Branch. Summit County.
- Colorado Judicial Branch. Trial Courts by County.
- Colorado Revised Statutes 2025. Title 16, Criminal Proceedings.
- Colorado Judicial Branch. Clear Creek County.
