State Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws
Learn about your state's laws by using the links below.
By Christie Nicholson, J.D. | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff | Last reviewed May 28, 2025
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw’s team of legal writers and attorneys and in accordance with our editorial standards.
The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors. 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.
Every state has laws called statutes of limitations that dictate how long a person has to pursue legal action. Civil statutes of limitation impose filing deadlines on people filing personal injury lawsuits. Criminal statutes of limitation require the prosecutor to file criminal charges within a specific amount of time.
Criminal statutes of limitations vary depending on the type of crime a person commits. For example, when it comes to murder, there is no statute of limitations. The government can file charges a year or a decade after a person commits a homicide.
For rape or sexual assault, the statute of limitations ranges anywhere from three to 30 years, depending on where you live.
This article provides links to the statute of limitations laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It also offers immediate access to FindLaw resources on crimes and related topics.
If you have questions about your criminal case, it’s a good idea to consult a local criminal defense attorney. Don’t wait too long because the state may already be building its case against you.
How Long Are Most Criminal Statutes of Limitation?
As you might imagine, statutes of limitations are longer for serious crimes like arson and manslaughter than they are for less serious offenses.
For example, there is a five-year statute of limitations for most robbery cases, whereas the statute of limitations for most third-degree manslaughter cases is closer to ten years.
The crimes that have no time limit or an extended statute of limitations period include serious offenses such as:
- Violent crimes
- Sex crimes such as violent sexual assault
- Sexual abuse of a victim under 13 years of age
- Child molestation and sexual conduct with a minor
Browse State Criminal Law by Topics
- Assault and Battery Laws
- Burglary Laws
- Capital Punishment Laws
- Child Abuse Laws
- Child Pornography Laws
- Cocaine Laws
- Computer Crime Laws
- Counterfeiting
- Credit Card Fraud Laws
- Criminal Procedure
- Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws
- The Death Penalty and Capital Offenses
- Disorderly Conduct Laws
- Drug Distribution Laws
- Drug Manufacturing Laws
- Drug Possession Laws
- Drug Trafficking and Drug Distribution
- Embezzlement Laws
- Extortion Laws
- Felony Offenses
- First Degree Murder Laws
- Forgery Laws
- Gun Control Laws
- Heroin Laws
- Identity Theft Laws
- Indecent Exposure Laws
- Insurance Fraud Laws
- Involuntary Manslaughter Laws
- Kidnapping Laws
- Larceny and Theft Laws
- Life Imprisonment
- Marijuana Laws
- Money Laundering Laws
- Perjury Laws
- Petty Offenses
- Prohibited Consensual Sexual Activity Laws
- Prostitution Laws
- Racketeering Laws
- Rape Laws
- Robbery Laws
- Second Degree Murder Laws
- Securities Fraud Laws
- Sex Offenses
- Sex Trafficking
- Sexual Assault Laws
- Sexual Offenses
- Stalking Laws
- Voluntary Manslaughter Laws
An Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help
If you’re facing criminal charges, it’s a good idea to consult a seasoned criminal defense attorney. They’ll work hard to secure an acquittal or, at a minimum, negotiate a favorable plea deal. Even if the state has filed misdemeanor charges against you, there may still be severe consequences. You may not want to face it alone with so much at stake.
Links to State Criminal Statutes of Limitation
Choose from the list below for state-specific criminal statute of limitations periods, including time limits for prosecuting felonies and misdemeanors: