For criminal cases investigated by public security organs, the maximum period of criminal detention before arrest shall not exceed 37 days. After the public security organ arrests a criminal suspect, the period of investigation and detention shall not exceed two months, and may be extended with approval. The public security organ shall transfer the case to the procuratorate for review and prosecution, and the procuratorate shall make a decision within one month, which may be extended by half a month.
If the case is returned for supplementary investigation or other crimes are committed, the above period will be recalculated.
When a people's court hears a public prosecution case, it shall pronounce a judgment within two months after accepting it, and no more than three months at the latest. For cases in which the death penalty may be imposed or cases with attached civil litigation, where one of the circumstances stipulated in Article 156 of this Law exists, an extension of three months may be granted with the approval of the people's court at the next higher level; if an extension is required due to special circumstances, the extension may be extended for three months. It should be submitted to the Supreme People's Court for approval.
To sum up, it generally takes about half a year to compel a final judgment in a criminal case, which can be extended under special circumstances.