Plea By Mail

A request for a plea by mail is an acknowledgment that, due to a hardship, you are unable to attend your court date and that you are willing to resolve your case through a guilty plea and sentencing through the mail. If you have any information or proof that you were in compliance with the law on the date of offense, please include that information with the completed Plea by Mail Application.

The District Attorney's Office has the discretion to accept or deny your request for a plea by mail. If your request is accepted, you will be eligible to resolve your case with a guilty plea and sentencing through the mail. After your request is received, you will be sent additional information along with a written plea offer from the court. Review the offer, sign and date the document explaining your legal rights and your acceptance of the written offer and return this information to the courts in a timely fashion. THE PLEA BY MAIL PROCESS MAY TAKE UP TO 4-8 WEEKS TO COMPLETE FROM THE DATE OF RECEIPT TO THE COURT'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE WRITTEN OFFER. IF THERE IS A PENDING COURT DATE IN YOUR CASE, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE YOUR COURT DATE IS CONTINUED. FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN A WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST FOR FAILING TO APPEAR. You must file a written motion for continuance. Forms can be obtained by calling 970-498-6100 or visit www.courts.state.co.us/chs/court/forms/selfhelpcenter.htm

You ARE eligible to apply for a plea by mail if you:

1. reside outside of the State of Colorado;
2. were cited for a misdemeanor or a traffic offense; and
3. are willing to plead guilty to the charges and accept the offer and proposed sentence recommendations. Please note, the court has the ultimate determination of whether to accept your plea by mail and your sentence.

You are NOT eligible to apply for a plea by mail if you:

1. reside within the State of Colorado;
2. were cited for a traffic infraction;
3. were cited for Driving Under Restraint AND your license has not been reinstated;
4. were charged with a felony;
5. have been charged with a crime that requires a mandatory jail sentence;
6. have additional pending cases in Larimer County;
7. wish to resolve a case involving a revocation of your probation or deferred sentence agreement, failure to comply, or sentencing.

Once you have received an offer from the court, all questions and/or comments must be directed to the clerk for the courtroom to which your case has been assigned, by calling (970) 498-6100. If you do not accept the offer made to you by our office, you must contact the Larimer County Courts at (970) 498-6100 within ten days of receipt of the offer letter to schedule a court date.

Plea By Mail Application Form [pdf]

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who can apply for a plea by mail?

   Anyone who is willing to resolve their case with a guilty plea can apply for a plea by mail if they meet the following eligibility requirements:

   • You reside outside of the State of Colorado
   • You were cited for a Misdemeanor or Traffic Offense
   • You are willing to plead guilty and accept the offer and proposed sentence recommendations that will be mailed from the court.
   
   
2. What if I don't want to plead guilty or accept an alternate offer?

   If you do not want to plead guilty or accept the alternate offer the court will mail to you, then you must appear for your scheduled court date. YOU CANNOT PLEAD NOT GUILTY THROUGH THE MAIL.

3. Will my case be dismissed?

   There is no guarantee that the case will be dismissed. The Deputy District Attorney will review the case and an offer will be made to the court.

4. What information do I provide with the application?

   You may provide any information that you feel will help the Deputy District Attorney's decision with your case. This can include but not limited to receipts, proof of insurance, proof of registration, and proof of eligibility to obtain a license in Colorado.

5. What will happen if my Plea By Mail is accepted?

   If your application is accepted, the Deputy District Attorney will provide an offer to the Court. The court will review the offer and if acceptable, will send out paperwork for you to review. If you choose to accept the offer, you will need to follow the instructions with the court's paperwork and return this information by the date on the form. IF YOU DECIDE NOT TO ACCEPT THE OFFER, YOU MUST APPEAR IN COURT.

6. What will happen if my Plea By Mail is denied?

   You will receive a letter from our office or the court explaining why your case is not eligible for the Plea By Mail program. If your case is not accepted, you will need to appear for your court date.

7. How long will the Plea By Mail process take?

   The Plea By Mail process can take up to 4-8 weeks from the date we receive your application.

8. What do I do if I have an upcoming court date?

   Our office CANNOT continue your court date. If you have an upcoming court date, it is YOUR responsibility to ask that the court date be continued. If you do not appear, a Bench Warrant for your arrest will be issued by the court for Failure to Appear.

9. Who is not eligible for a Plea By Mail?

   You are NOT eligible for a plea by mail if you:

   • reside within the State of Colorado
   • were cited for a Traffic Infraction
   • were cited for Driving Under Restraint AND your license has not been reinstate or you are not eligible to obtain a license in the State of Colorado.
   • are charged with a felony
   • have been charged with a crime that requires a mandatory jail sentence
   • have additional pending cases in Larimer County
   • your case involves a revocation of your probation or deferred sentence agreement, failure to comply, or sentencing.
   
   
10. What do I do if I am not eligible for a Plea By Mail?

    If you are not eligible for a Plea By Mail you must appear before the court.

11. What if I have a warrant on my case for Failure to Appear for my original Court Date?

    Your warrant will remain active until the case is resolved. Once you return the court's paperwork with payment for any fines and court costs, the warrant will be cancelled and the Colorado Department of Revenue will be notified to release your license.

12. What is my Case Number?

    Your case number is the court's docket number. This can be obtained by calling the court at 970-498-6100.

13. What is my citation number?

    This is the "ticket" number. This is the number imprinted on the ticket issued by the officer.

14. What if my case is a traffic infraction?

    If your case is a traffic infraction, you must call the court at 970-498-6100 to resolve your case. Our office does not prosecute traffic infractions.

15. What if my case is a penalty assessment - Can I just pay my fine?

    If your case is a penalty assessment, you may call the court at 970-498-6100 at they can advise whether your fines can be paid in advance