{"id":371307,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:18","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/alabama-law\/alabama-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-04-04T16:46:28","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T21:46:28","slug":"alabama-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/alabama-law\/alabama-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Alabama Criminal Statute of Limitations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Alabama Criminal Statute of Limitations<\/h1>\n
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\n By Samuel Strom, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Most crimes in the state of Alabama have an applicable statute of limitations<\/a>. In the context of criminal law, the statute of limitations is a period of time in which the prosecutor must file criminal charges against a defendant. If a prosecutor does not file charges within the statute of limitations, the court can no longer hear the case.<\/p>\r\n

Statutes of limitations laws vary between states. In Alabama, most misdemeanors have a 12-month limitation period, and most felonies have a five-year limitation period. But some types of crimes, such as murder<\/a> and arson, do not have a statute of limitations.<\/p>\r\n

The following table summarizes Alabama’s criminal statute of limitations laws.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Code sections<\/th>\r\n

Alabama Code \u00a7\u00a7 15-3-1<\/a> to 15-3-8<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Felonies<\/th>\r\n

Generally, felony offenses have a five-year statute of limitations period. (\u00a7 15-3-1)<\/p>\r\n

But the following felonies have no statute of limitations<\/a> (i.e., there is no time limit to file them):<\/p>\r\n

Misdemeanors<\/th>\r\n

All misdemeanors, unless otherwise stated, have a 12-month statute of limitations. (\u00a7 15-3-2)<\/p>\r\n

An action for unlawfully taking or using another person’s property temporarily must begin within 30 days of the offense. (\u00a7 15-3-4)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Acts during which statute does not run<\/th>\r\n

If the prosecution stops with one indictment<\/a> and later starts with another, the amount of time between indictments counts toward the last charged offense’s limitations period. (\u00a7 15-3-6)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Other<\/th>\r\n

For purposes of the statute of limitations, a prosecution begins when any of the following occurs (\u00a7 15-3-7):<\/p>\r\n