How Long Does a Police Investigation Take in North Carolina? 2025

If you or a loved one is involved in a police investigation or has been accused of a crime, you might feel overwhelmed by the entire criminal justice system. You may have unanswered questions, including wondering: How long does a police investigation take in North Carolina?

What Are the Steps of a Police Investigation?

There are many steps involved in a police investigation, which is why an investigation can be lengthy. During an investigation, officers will typically take the following steps:

• Visit the crime scene(s) and document their initial observations
• Collect evidence, like DNA and fingerprints
• Conduct witness interviews with anyone involved
• Attempt to identify potential suspects
• Monitor and conduct surveillance of suspects
• Work with forensic analysis to examine any collected evidence
• Determine the connection of any evidence to the identified suspects
• Interrogate suspects for further information
• Prepare a report
• Determine whether to file criminal charges
• Maintain a chain of custody of evidence

During the investigation, law enforcement personnel must follow necessary legal procedures, avoid bias, and maintain ethical police conduct at all times.

What Impacts the Duration of a Police Investigation in North Carolina?

There is no set time frame for a police investigation in North Carolina; however, several factors can impact how long the investigation might take, including:

• The specific type of crime involved
• The strength and availability of the collected, relevant evidence
• The overall case complexity
• Whether the case needs to go to trial

Why Does the Type of Crime Affect a Police Investigation?

The length of an investigation can be affected by the specific type of crime involved. If the case is a federal crime with a five-year statute of limitations, investigations can take a long period of time to wrap up.

If the investigation is for a minor offense, such as a traffic violation, the investigation could conclude quickly. For a serious crime, such as a homicide, the investigation could take much longer. For an offense such as a DUI or domestic violence offense, the responding officers might arrest someone right away if they’re an immediate threat.

Why Does the Strength and Availability of the Collected, Relevant Evidence Affect a Police Investigation?

If the evidence collected in a case is strong, the police investigation might conclude quickly, and an arrest can happen right away. However, if the evidence is somewhat weak, the police investigation could take more time to conclude to ensure the evidence supports the charges.

Also, if evidence isn’t available right away, such as DNA testing or substantial forensic testing, the police investigation might take additional time to conclude. Some delays occur because of lab results taking time, such as waiting on toxicology reports. Each case can have a minor issue or justifiable reason that delays the conclusion of a police investigation.

Of note, a case may be reopened under certain specific circumstances, such as:

• If new evidence is found
• If there’s a new development related to the involved crime

An attorney can discuss the possibility of reopening a case with you.

Why Does the Overall Case Complexity Affect a Police Investigation?

The complexity of the overall case can impact the time an investigation takes. The more complex the case is, the longer it might take to resolve any issues before the case can conclude. If a police investigation involves many suspects, several crime scenes, or a sizable number of witnesses, it can take longer.

Why Does Whether the Case Goes to Trial Affect a Police Investigation?

Generally, most investigations take just a few months in North Carolina. Yet, if extensive evidence collection and analysis is needed before a case can proceed to trial, that can impact the conclusion date for a police investigation. A knowledgeable North Carolina attorney can further discuss the time frame for police investigations.

FAQs

Q: What Happens During a Criminal Investigation?

A: During a criminal investigation, the police will obtain and analyze relevant evidence to determine a potential suspect and their theory of the case. Law enforcement teams collect evidence, monitor suspects, interview important witnesses, and decide whether they have enough evidence to bring charges to criminal court. Once a theory is supported by sufficient evidence, the case can proceed.

Q: How Can I Tell if I Am Being Set Up by the Police?

A: If you think you are being set up by the police, you may need to be on alert. You can watch for coercion or pressure from responding officers and unusual attention from local law enforcement. You might need to contact friends and family to see if anyone unusual has contacted them without a valid reason. If you think you’ve experienced sudden police attention, it could support your belief that you’re being set up, and it’s important to contact an attorney.

Q: How Long Does a Criminal Case Take in North Carolina?

A: The length of time a criminal case takes in North Carolina depends on several factors, including:

• The charge severity and complexity of relevant legal issues
• The schedule (or backlog) of the court
• Whether your case needs to go to trial
• The availability of evidence and witnesses
• Whether your case gets continued at any point

An experienced criminal law attorney can help estimate the time frame for a case proceeding in North Carolina.

Q: What Happens Once a Criminal Investigation Is Closed?

A: Once a criminal investigation is considered closed, it typically means that local law enforcement is done gathering important evidence and has possibly determined whether to press charges against a specific subject. If there is insufficient evidence, the case may not proceed. Once it is closed, typically, law enforcement won’t continue to look for other evidence and won’t conduct any further interviews. A case can reopen under specific circumstances when necessary.

Contact a North Carolina Attorney to Discuss the Time Frame of a Police Investigation

A criminal law defense attorney can help estimate how long a criminal investigation might take under specific circumstances. The legal team at The Law Firm of Brent D. Ratchford can comprehensively address your case and answer any questions you might have. Contact our office at any time so we can help.