Our Role

Colorado’s criminal justice system is a collaboration between lawmakers, law enforcement, district attorneys, judges and the community.

• Legislature: Criminal laws and the corresponding criminal justice response — such as prison sentences — are created and controlled by the Colorado General Assembly and signed off on by the Governor.
• Law Enforcement: Police departments and sheriffs’ offices are charged with investigating reported crimes. When probable cause for an arrestable offense exists, officers have the discretion to decide whether or not to take the accused into custody.
• District Attorneys: DAs review cases referred by law enforcement and determine what charges should be filed or not filed based on the evidence and a reasonable likelihood of conviction at trial.
• Jury: If a case goes to trial, individuals from the community are presented with the evidence and determine if a defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the crime they are charged with.
• Judge: At the beginning of a case, a judge determines if there is probable cause for the charges filed by the DA. Judges preside over hearings and trials, and if the accused is convicted, issues a sentence created by law though the legislature.