Case Resolution
This section presents data on all cases prosecuted by the DA's Office that have reached a final resolution (a case disposition). Cases can be resolved in a variety of ways, including by dismissal, diversion, deferred judgment, guilty plea, or by acquittal or guilty verdict at trial. Successful diversion completions will be categorized as dismissals, for more information on diversion please see the Diversion and Deferrals section.
Why is this important? It is important to review how cases are resolved to ensure we are addressing serious crime effectively while minimizing unnecessary punitiveness.
Indicators
Below are a set of indicators that provide additional context about case resolutions. These indicators help the DA's Office ensure they are achieving outcomes efficiently, effectively, and fairly.
There are many reasons a felony may resolve as a misdemeanor. For example, as a case progresses more information may come to light, a victim may refuse to testify, and/or eyewitnesses may be discovered through further investigation. Each factor influences the final disposition of a case. A low percentage of felonies resolved as misdemeanors can be an indicator of accurate initial charging decisions.
Our goal is to achieve equity in plea outcomes for all defendants. There are well-recognized difficulties in collecting accurate race and ethnicity data. One should keep these difficulties in mind when reviewing metrics which include race and/or ethnicity. The Office supports the efforts of our law enforcement partners to continually find ways to more accurately collect race and ethnicity data.
The Denver DA's Office's goal is to achieve equity in plea outcomes across all defendants. There are well-recognized difficulties in collecting accurate race and ethnicity data. One should keep these difficulties in mind when reviewing metrics which include race and/or ethnicity. The Denver District Attorney's Office supports efforts by our law enforcement partners to more accurately collect race and ethnicity data.
Click Here for more information about race and ethnicity data collection and limitations.
Our goal is to improve efficiency by resolving cases as soon as possible. The are many reasons why a case may not resolve in a timely manner such as a victim or eyewitness may refuse to testify, more evidence may become available, general delays in court proceedings and other reasons that may be outside of our control. We are always looking for ways to shorten the time it takes to resolve a case.
Notes
- Underlying data counts for each chart can be accessed through this link.
- Each case is reflected by its top disposition. For example, if a charge on a case is dismissed as a part of plea negotiations and another charge on the case is plead guilty, the case will be reflected here as a “plead guilty.”
- The charge level represents the most serious charge filed in a case.
- Warrants are excluded (for all cases identified as a warrant).
- Cases disposed with a disposition reason “deceased defendant” are excluded from case resolution related charts.
- Hearings that occurred after case resolution (for e.g., if a defendant was on probation or returned to court for some reason after the case was disposed) are excluded from the average number of hearings per case.