2018 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 18 - Criminal Code
Article 1 - Provisions Applicable to Offenses Generally
Part 4 - Rights of Defendant
§ 18-1-404. Preliminary hearing or waiver - dispositional hearing
(1) Every person accused of a class 1, 2, or 3 felony or level 1 or level 2 drug felony by direct information or felony complaint has the right to demand and receive a preliminary hearing within a reasonable time to determine whether probable cause exists to believe that the offense charged in the information has been committed by the defendant. In addition, only those persons accused of a class 4, 5, or 6 felony by direct information or felony complaint which felony requires mandatory sentencing or is a crime of violence as defined in section 18-1.3-406, or is a sexual offense under part 4 of article 3 of this title, shall have the right to demand and receive a preliminary hearing within a reasonable time to determine whether probable cause exists to believe that the offense charged in the information or felony complaint was committed by the defendant. The procedure to be followed in asserting the right to a preliminary hearing, and the time within which demand therefor must be made, as well as the time within which the hearing, if demanded, shall be had, shall be as provided by rule of the supreme court of the state of Colorado. A failure to observe and substantially comply with such rule is a waiver of the right to a preliminary hearing.
(2) (a) No person accused of a class 4, 5, or 6 felony or level 3 or level 4 drug felony by direct information or felony complaint, except those which require mandatory sentencing or which are crimes of violence as defined in section 18-1.3-406, or which are sexual offenses under part 4 of article 3 of this title, shall have the right to demand or receive a preliminary hearing; except that such person shall participate in a dispositional hearing for the purposes of case evaluation and potential resolution.
(b) Any defendant accused of a class 4, 5, or 6 felony or level 3 or level 4 drug felony who is not otherwise entitled to a preliminary hearing pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (2), may demand and shall receive a preliminary hearing within a reasonable time pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, if the defendant is in custody; except that, upon motion of either party, the court shall vacate the preliminary hearing if there is a reasonable showing that the defendant has been released from custody prior to the preliminary hearing.
