How Long They Have to Charge You
C.R.S. 16-5-401 — three years for most felonies, eighteen months for a misdemeanor, six months for a petty offense
| The offense | The time to charge it |
|---|---|
| The offenseMurder, kidnapping, treason, any sex offense against a child, and any forgery | The time to charge itNo limit |
| The offenseVehicular homicide, and leaving the scene of a crash that caused a death | The time to charge itFive years |
| The offenseOther felonies | The time to charge itThree years |
| The offenseMisdemeanors | The time to charge itEighteen months |
| The offenseClass 1 and 2 misdemeanor traffic offenses | The time to charge itOne year |
| The offensePetty offenses | The time to charge itSix months |
Who handles this in Colorado: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Colorado directory.
The time runs from the commission of the offense. It is paused while the person is absent from the state, for up to five years of absence, and many specific offenses have longer periods of their own.
Sources for this section (1)
- C.R.S. 16-5-401 — Limitation for commencing criminal proceedings, civil infraction proceedings, and juvenile delinquency proceedings - definitions
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Colorado attorney.