{"id":372542,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:54","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/florida-law\/florida-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-06-03T10:02:26","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T15:02:26","slug":"florida-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/florida-law\/florida-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Florida Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Florida Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/melissa-mccall-j-d\/\">Melissa McCall, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            June 03, 2025\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n<p>Criminal statutes of limitations give prosecutors deadlines or a limitations period for filing criminal charges. These time limits often vary by the severity of the crime, with no limitations period for certain violent crimes like capital murder. If the prosecutor or state attorney fails to bring charges before the applicable statute of limitations expires, the court will likely dismiss the charges.<\/p>\r\n<p>A statute of limitations is an affirmative defense to an untimely criminal prosecution. Every state or territory, including Florida, establishes its own criminal statute limitations.<\/p>\r\n<p>This FindLaw article explores criminal statutes of limitations in Florida.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Criminal Statute of Limitations Basics<\/h2>\r\n<p>Criminal statutes help ensure evidence, both physical and testimonial, does not degrade before trial. Evidence sufficient to prove guilt is the cornerstone of any criminal prosecution. Prosecutors rely on testimonials and physical evidence when trying criminal cases. Examples of testimonial evidence include, but are not limited to, the following:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Eyewitness testimony<\/li>\r\n<li>Law enforcement reports<\/li>\r\n<li>Character statements<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Examples of physical evidence include, but are not limited to, the following:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>DNA evidence<\/li>\r\n<li>Fingerprints<\/li>\r\n<li>Surveillance footage<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Consider a DUI case that resulted in vehicular manslaughter. The prosecution may rely on eyewitness testimony, police reports, and breathalyzer results to make their case. If the prosecution waits a decade to file a charging document, much of that evidence could be unusable. The eyewitness may be in cognitive decline, or the police officer may no longer be part of the force.<\/p>\r\n<p>Waiting a decade to file charges is also unfair to the defendant and is incongruent with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-rights\/right-to-a-speedy-jury-trial.html\" title=\"swift administration of justice\">swift administration of justice<\/a>. The alleged perpetrator may escape accountability for causing a death. Evidence can degrade or disappear over time, so bringing criminal charges within the allowable time period is essential.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Tolling<\/h3>\r\n<p>Tolling is an essential concept in analyzing a criminal statute of limitations. Think of tolling as a pausing of the relevant statute of limitations. For the criminal offense of first-degree misdemeanor theft, the statute of limitations under Florida law is two years. This means the prosecution has two years to file criminal charges against the alleged perpetrator.<\/p>\r\n<p>If the person left Florida or is otherwise unavailable, the statute of limitations would pause during their absence. It restarts when the person returns to Florida.<\/p>\r\n<h2><b>Florida Criminal Statute of Limitations at a Glance<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><p>What Is a Criminal Statute of Limitations in Florida?<\/p>\r\n<\/b><\/th>\r\n<td><p>A statute of limitations tells you the time frame when the prosecution must bring a charge for a crime.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><p>Florida Criminal Statute of Limitations Code Section<\/p>\r\n<\/b><\/th>\r\n<td><p>Florida&nbsp;Statutes&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/fl\/title-xlvi-crimes\/fl-st-sect-775-15.html\" title=\"Florida Code Section 775.15: Time Limitations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">section 775.15<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><p>Florida Criminal Statutes of Limitations for Felonies<\/p>\r\n<\/b><\/th>\r\n<td><p>There is <b>no time limit<\/b> for filing charges for the following crimes:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Felony crimes that result in death<\/li>\r\n<li>Capital (death penalty) felonies<\/li>\r\n<li>Life felonies<\/li>\r\n<li>Perjury during a capital felony case<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/laws.flrules.org\/files\/Ch_2020-081.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sexual battery<\/a> when the victim is under 18 and the crime occurred on or after July 1, 2020<\/li>\r\n<li>Human trafficking<\/li>\r\n<li>Aggravated child abuse<\/li>\r\n<li>Lewd or lascivious battery, molestation, or conduct<\/li>\r\n<li>Carjacking<\/li>\r\n<li>False imprisonment<\/li>\r\n<li>Felony battery<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>The following felonies carry a <b>four-year<\/b> statute of limitations:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>First-degree felonies<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>The following felonies carry a <b>three-year<\/b> statute of limitations:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Second-degree felonies<\/li>\r\n<li>Third-degree felonies (like aggravated battery)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Statutes of limitations for other felonies:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Felonies involving a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/fl\/title-xlvi-crimes\/fl-st-sect-790-001.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">destructive device<\/a>, resulting in injury to a person: <b>10 years<\/b><\/li>\r\n<li>First- or second-degree felony&nbsp;abuse or neglect of an aged or disabled adult: <b>five years<\/b><\/li>\r\n<li>Violations of a&nbsp;securities transaction for&nbsp;Medicaid provider fraud or insurance fraud: <b>five years<\/b><\/li>\r\n<li>For a felony violation of&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/Statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;Search_String=&amp;URL=0400-0499\/0403\/0403PARTIContentsIndex.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chapter 403<\/a> on&nbsp;environmental control: <b>five years<\/b> from discovery of the violation<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><p>Florida Criminal Statutes of Limitations for Misdemeanors<\/p>\r\n<\/b><\/th>\r\n<td><ul>\r\n<li>First-degree misdemeanors: <b>two years<\/b><\/li>\r\n<li>Second-degree misdemeanors: <b>one year<\/b><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><p>Crimes in Which a Child Is a Victim<\/p>\r\n<\/b><\/th>\r\n<td><p>There is&nbsp;<b>no time limit<\/b>&nbsp;for <a href=\"http:\/\/laws.flrules.org\/files\/Ch_2020-081.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sexual battery<\/a> cases when the victim is a minor, and the offense occurred on or after July 1, 2020<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><p>Acts During Which Statute Does Not Run<\/p>\r\n<\/b><\/th>\r\n<td><p>The statute of limitations does not run when you are continually absent from the state or have no identifiable place of work or home in the state. This exception cannot extend the time limit for more than three years.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><p>Other Florida Criminal Statutes of Limitations<\/p>\r\n<\/b><\/th>\r\n<td><ul>\r\n<li>A <b>one-year<\/b> statute of limitations applies if the time limit has expired for any offense involving fraud or breach of fiduciary obligation and cannot exceed three years total<\/li>\r\n<li>A <b>two-year<\/b> statute of limitations applies to crimes involving misconduct in public office<\/li>\r\n<li>If there is DNA evidence for some sex crimes, prosecutors can bring a case within <b>one year<\/b> of the discovery of this evidence without respect to other time limits<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n<p><i>Note:&nbsp;State laws are constantly changing. You should conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.<\/i><\/p>\r\n<h2><b>Issues With <\/b>Florida Criminal Statutes of Limitations? Speak to an Attorney<\/h2>\r\n<p>Consider speaking with a <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/criminal-law\/florida\/?fli=dcta\" title=\"Florida criminal defense attorne\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Florida criminal defense attorne<\/a>y if you&#8217;re facing criminal charges. An expert in criminal law can help you accurately compute the statute of limitations period. Having a skilled Florida&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/criminal-law\/florida\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">criminal defense attorney<\/a> in your corner can make a huge difference.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" 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<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Criminal statutes of limitations dictate how long a prosecutor has to file charges against the accused. In most instances, if the statute of limitations has passed the court won&#8217;t allow the charges to be filed. Learn about Florida criminal statutes of limitations and more at FindLaw.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":372499,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":[]},"categories":[2743],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[2826,2837],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-372542","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-state","state_laws_tags-statelaws_10_1","state_laws_tags-statelaws_10_5"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/372542","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=372542"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/372542\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/372499"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=372542"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=372542"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=372542"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=372542"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=372542"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}