Statute of Limitations for Class A / Gross Misdemeanor in Colorado

Overview

In Colorado, prosecutors generally must file charges within a set window after the alleged offense occurs. That window is the statute of limitations (often shortened to “SOL”). For Class A misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors, the SOL is tracked by a specific timeline established in Colorado law, with a few time-altering exceptions.

This page focuses on the Colorado rules for these offenses and shows how to apply them using DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator. It’s designed to be practical for case screening, record review, and intake triage—not a substitute for legal advice.

Limitation period

Default limitation periods in Colorado for Class A / gross misdemeanors

Colorado sets misdemeanor SOL periods based on misdemeanor class:

• Class A misdemeanor: 18 months
• Gross misdemeanor: 2 years

These are the baseline deadlines when nothing else extends or tolls the clock.

How the clock is typically measured

In most SOL problems, the key date is:

1. Date of offense (or the date the offense is deemed to have occurred under applicable law)
2. Then you count forward the limitation period
3. Charges must be filed (or otherwise initiated in a way that counts under Colorado procedure) before the deadline

Because SOL calculations depend on the offense classification, the safest workflow is to confirm the intended charge level up front:

• If the charging document (or expected charging theory) is Class A, use 18 months
• If it’s gross misdemeanor, use 2 years

Practical intake checklist (use before calculating)

Use this quick list to avoid the most common calculation mistakes:

If you’re missing one of these dates, your result may be directionally correct (for example, “likely within SOL”) but not definitive.

Key exceptions

Colorado law recognizes circumstances that can extend the deadline. The most common exception categories that change SOL outcomes include:

1) Tolling due to the defendant’s absence from Colorado

If the defendant is absent from the state, Colorado can toll (pause) the limitation clock during the period of absence. That means the statutory deadline effectively moves later, because the clock does not run the same way it would if the defendant stayed in-state the entire time.

Calculator impact: you’ll typically enter an absence start date and absence end date (or equivalent time inputs) so DocketMath can account for the paused interval.

2) Tolling while the defendant is otherwise not amenable to prosecution

Certain procedural or jurisdictional realities can make the defendant not readily available for prosecution. Depending on the exact facts, this can operate similarly to tolling—again, extending the effective deadline.

Calculator impact: if you select the relevant tolling/exception inputs, the “expiration date” will shift forward.

3) Multiple alleged offenses / amended charges

When facts involve multiple dates (for example, repeated conduct) or the case shifts from one class of offense to another, SOL analysis can change. In practice, SOL often needs to be considered per charge and per event date, not just based on the first contact or first report.

Calculator impact: you may need to run separate calculations for:

• each distinct offense date, and/or
• each offense class if amended

4) Effect of charge initiation timing

SOL isn’t only about whether investigators took steps—it’s about whether the case was initiated in the legally recognized way before the SOL deadline. Different procedural steps can matter.

Calculator impact: if you’re using the calculator to compare “deadline vs. filed,” ensure the “filed” date you enter matches the relevant initiation date for your workflow.

Statute citation

Colorado’s misdemeanor statute of limitations is found in the Colorado Revised Statutes. The key provisions include:

• C.R.S. § 18-1-405 (Statute of limitations; misdemeanor time periods and related rules)

This is the primary citation used to determine misdemeanor SOL periods and the legal framework for exceptions like tolling.

Use the calculator

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator converts the legal timelines into an expiration date you can use in review and screening.

To use it effectively, focus on the inputs that change outcomes:

Inputs to enter

1. Jurisdiction: Colorado (US-CO)
2. Offense class: choose either:

   • Class A misdemeanor (18 months), or
   • Gross misdemeanor (2 years)
3. Date of offense: the date the conduct occurred (or the date the offense is treated as occurring)
4. Charges filed date (optional but useful):

   • If you include this, DocketMath can indicate whether filing occurred before the expiration date.
5. Exception/tolling inputs (only if applicable):

   • Example category: defendant’s absence from Colorado
   • Enter the absence period so the tool can pause the SOL calculation during that time.

What the output tells you

After you run the calculation, DocketMath provides results such as:

• Statute of limitations expiration date
• A time window view showing how the limitation period runs from the offense date
• If you provided a filing date, a pass/fail style comparison (e.g., “filed before expiration” vs. “filed after expiration”)

How changing an input changes the result (quick scenarios)

Start here (primary CTA)

Use DocketMath’s calculator to compute the SOL deadline:

/tools/statute-of-limitations

If you’re doing a bulk review, run separate calculations for each charge type and event date rather than trying to compress everything into one run.

Sources and references

Start with the primary authority for Colorado and confirm the effective date before relying on any output. If the rule has been amended, update the inputs and rerun the calculation.

• Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-101

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — Tool comparison
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — How-to guide
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — Tool comparison