{"id":371416,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:19","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/alaska-law\/alaska-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-10-24T14:00:01","modified_gmt":"2024-10-24T19:00:01","slug":"alaska-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/alaska-law\/alaska-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Alaska Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Alaska Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Samuel Strom, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\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

State prosecutors must file criminal charges within the time limits established by the criminal statute of limitations. The time limits depend on the type of crime. Generally, the clock begins running the day following the crime’s commission or when every element of the crime happens<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

But certain circumstances may pause or toll the limitations period. For example, state law tolls the statute of limitations when a fugitive flees the state of Alaska. Because the clock does not run when they are outside Alaska, they cannot "wait out" a prosecution in another state.<\/p>\r\n

The statute of limitations serves several purposes, including the following:<\/p>\r\n