Georgia Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws

• There is no time limit for murder cases.
• Cases for forcible rape must be started within 15 years.
• Cases for other crimes punishable by death or life imprisonment must be started within 7 years.
• Cases for other felonies must be started within 4 years. But if the victim is a minor, the time limit is 7 years.

• If a time limit for the crime is not already specified, cases for crimes against minors must be started within 7 years of the crime.
• When the victim of crimes such as rape, sodomy, incest, and child molestation is younger than 16 at the time of the crime, the time limit starts when the victim turns 16 or when the violation is reported, whichever is earlier.

The time limit does not run when:

• You are not a resident of Georgia
• Your identity is unknown
• The crime is unknown
• You are a government officer or employee charged with theft by conversion of property committed while you were in that position
• You are a guardian or trustee charged with theft by conversion of the property of your ward or beneficiary

Additionally, if the victim of any crime is 65 years old or older at the time of the crime, the time limit does not start until the violation is reported or is discovered by the authorities, whichever is earlier. Unless the general time limit for the crime is more than 15 years, a case must be brought within 15 years under these circumstances.

• If a case is started and then later stopped, the time limit is extended by 6 months from the time the case is stopped.
• If DNA evidence establishes who committed a crime of armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, there is no time limit for starting the case.