Types of Criminal Cases Handled by Bell County District Courts in 2009

How Long Does It Take To Resolve a Criminal Case?

Felony Cases

According to the Texas Office of Court Administration, the Bell County district courts handled 2,283 felony criminal cases during the year 2009. Of those cases, just 10% were cases which were resolved within the first 60 days after the case was filed. Only 7% were completed between 60 and 90 days, and another 6% were completed between 90 and 120 days. The majority of all felony criminal cases, some 77% (almost 8 out of every 10 cases filed), required more than 120 days to resolve.

Statewide, there were a total of 282,897 felony criminal cases resolved in 2009. Overall, almost one out of every three felony criminal cases (or 32%) were resolved within the first 60 days after being filed. There were an additional 9% of cases which were resolved within 60 and 90 days, and another 8% from 90 to 120 days. The remaining 51% of cases took more than 120 days to complete from date of filing to final resolution.

Misdemeanor Cases

According to the Texas Office of Court Administration, the Bell County misdemeanor courts handled 9,010 cases during 2009. Of those, 15% of all misdemeanor cases were resolved within the first 30 days after being filed. However, only 6% were completed between 31 and 60 days, and another 6% between 61 and 90 days. The majority of all misdemeanor criminal cases, some 73% (roughly 8 out of every 10 cases filed), took more than 90 days to resolve.

Statewide, there were 611,694 misdemeanor cases resolved during 2009. Of those, roughly one out of every four misdemeanor criminal cases (or 23%) were resolved within the first 30 days. Next, there were an additional 11% of cases which were resolved within 31 and 60 days, and then another 9% from 61 to 90 days. The remaining 57% took more than 90 days to complete.