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An Overview of Colorado Criminal Statutes of Limitations

July 16, 2015

An experienced Denver & Boulder criminal lawyer provides an overview of the Colorado criminal statutes of limitations for different charges. Contact us for the best defense against misdemeanor or felony charges.

Statutes of limitations essentially dictate how long someone has to file a case in criminal or civil courts. When it comes to criminal statutes of limitations, after these time frames have passed or expired, a prosecutor will no longer legally be able to pursue criminal charges – and a criminal case – against a given suspect or defendant.

Below, we’ll outline what is important to understand about Colorado criminal statutes of limitation.

Colorado Criminal Statutes of Limitation at a Glance

The following table outlines the criminal statutes of limitations for various felony and misdemeanor offenses.

Offense Classification	Specific Offense	Statute of Limitations
Felony Offense	Murder, attempted murder, conspiracy or solicitation to commit murder	NONE – In other words, there is no time after which prosecutors cannot file these charges against a suspect following the alleged offense.
	Kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, conspiracy or solicitation to commit kidnapping
	Treason, attempted treason, conspiracy or solicitation to commit treason
	Forgery, attempted forgery, conspiracy or solicitation to commit forgery
	Sexual assault, aggravated incest	10 years
	Sexual exploitation of children, soliciting a child for prostitution or pandering or procurement of a child	10 years
	Other felony offenses	3 years
Misdemeanor offenses	3^rd-degree sexual assault	5 years
	Class I & II traffic offenses	1 year
	Petty offenses	6 months
	Other misdemeanor offenses	18 months

Colorado Criminal Statutes of Limitation: More Important Info

The specific Colorado law that deals with criminal statutes of limitations is C.R.S. 16-5-401.
If the accused person is absent from the state, the statute of limitations for an offense can be extended for up to 5 years.
For certain offenses (such as sexual offenses on children younger than 15), extensions to the statute of limitations can also apply.

Denver & Boulder Criminal Lawyer at the Griffin Law Firm

Have you been charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense in Colorado? If so, you can turn to the Denver & Boulder criminal lawyer at Griffin Law Firm for experienced help and the best possible defense. With nearly two decades of experience in the criminal justice system, our attorney understands the complexities of the system, the challenges different defendants can face and the best ways of overcoming these challenges to bring criminal cases to successful resolutions.

Our steadfast dedication to the notion that the accused are innocent until proven guilty means that we will do everything in our power to help bring your case to the best possible resolution so you can focus on your future.

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To receive a complete evaluation of your case, along with professional advice regarding your best options, contact us by calling (303) 280-1070 or by emailing us using the contact form at the top of this page.