哥伦比亚的刑法规定，刑事诉讼应当在一段等同于法律确定的最长处罚期限的 期限内失效，条件是此种处罚系剥夺自由，但任何情况下都不得少于五（5）年 或多于二十（20）年。对于公职人员，时效期限增加一半。未对已逃避了司法 处罚的嫌疑犯罪人的情形予以规定。对于腐败罪行，时效期限为 6 至 20 年。
The criminal legislation of Colombia provides that criminal proceedings shall be prescribed within a period equal to the maximum period of punishment fixed by law, if such punishment is deprivation of liberty, but in no case shall this be less than five (5) years nor more than twenty (20) years. For public officials the duration of the statute of limitations period is increased by half. Cases of suspected offenders who have evaded the administration of justice are not regulated. With corruption offences the statute of limitations period is between 6 and 20 years.