How long is the investigation period of criminal cases?

According to the relevant provisions of China's criminal procedure law, the investigation period after arrest is less than two months, up to seven months at the longest. In the process of investigation, if the suspect is found to have other important criminal acts, the period of investigation and detention shall be recalculated from the date of discovery.

After the investigation expires, it will be transferred to the procuratorate for public prosecution.

Legal basis:

Article 156 of the Criminal Procedure Law stipulates that the period of investigation and detention of a criminal suspect after arrest shall not exceed two months. If the case is complicated and cannot be concluded at the expiration of the time limit, it may be extended for one month with the approval of the people's procuratorate at the next higher level.

Article 158 of the Criminal Procedure Law stipulates that if the investigation of the following cases cannot be concluded at the expiration of the time limit stipulated in Article 156 of this Law, it may be extended for two months with the approval or decision of the people's procuratorates of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government:

(1) Major and complicated cases in remote areas with very inconvenient transportation;

(2) Major underworld organization cases.

Extended data

There are eight steps in the investigation of criminal cases. They are: 1. Interrogating a criminal suspect requires at least two investigators to participate in the interrogation. A criminal suspect who does not need to be arrested or detained may be summoned for interrogation; 2. Ask the witness of the case; 3. Conduct an inquest and inspection on the site; 4. Search in relevant places; 5. Detain relevant evidence; 6. Identification of evidence; 7. Wanted criminal suspects; 8. Complete the investigation.