{"id":371522,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:22","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/arizona-law\/arizona-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-04-16T12:37:12","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T17:37:12","slug":"arizona-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/arizona-law\/arizona-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Criminal Statute of Limitations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Arizona 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

In criminal law, statute of limitations laws<\/a> establish time limits for prosecutors to file criminal charges against a defendant. The amount of time a prosecutor has to file these charges depends on the crimes they allege the defendants committed. Several dangerous crimes, including sex offenses and violent crimes, generally do not have a statute of limitations under state law.<\/p>\r\n

If the state fails to file criminal charges within the statute of limitations<\/a>, the court can no longer judge the case. In practice, the state can file criminal charges after the statute of limitations. But, a defendant can request the court to dismiss the case due to the late filing.<\/p>\r\n

This article offers an overview of Arizona’s<\/a> criminal statute of limitations laws. It begins with a summary of statutes of limitation and why they exist. It then offers specific information about Arizona’s criminal limitation periods, including a table listing several specific crimes and their applicable time periods. It concludes with a list of related resources and articles.<\/p>\r\n

If you face criminal charges, contact a criminal defense attorney<\/a> right away.<\/p>\r\n

Statute of Limitations: Background<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

State legislatures determine the statute of limitations for crimes and civil offenses. Like crimes, civil offenses also have statutes of limitations<\/a>. Civil statute of limitations laws apply time limits when a plaintiff must file a lawsuit.<\/p>\r\n

Civil and criminal statutes of limitations help ensure everyone gets a fair trial<\/a>. They also help preserve the integrity of evidence. For example, requiring the state to file criminal charges soon after a crime ensures that witnesses’ memories are fresh.<\/p>\r\n

Statutes of limitations<\/a> also promote judicial efficiency. In the civil context, if someone files their claim within the statute of limitations, the case will typically resolve through either a settlement or through the courts. If they fail to file their cause of action within the applicable time limit, the court has no power to adjudicate it and clears up its docket for other fresh cases.<\/p>\r\n

See Time Limits for Charges: State Criminal Statutes of Limitations<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\r\n

Criminal Statutes of Limitations in Arizona<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Under Arizona law, most felonies<\/a> have a seven-year statute of limitations. Misdemeanors<\/a> have one-year limitation periods. The state must file charges for petty offenses within six months of the crime.<\/p>\r\n

But, like most states, Arizona does not impose a time limit for serious offenses, like murder<\/a> or violent sexual assault. So, the state may prosecute someone for these offenses regardless of when the crime happened.<\/p>\r\n

The state begins a criminal prosecution when it files one of the following:<\/p>\r\n