Vermont Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws

Every state has laws dictating how long a person has to file a legal claim. This is true for civil and criminal cases. Civil statutes of limitations limit the time a plaintiff has to file their personal injury lawsuit.

A state’s criminal statute of limitations limits how long prosecutors can wait to pursue criminal charges. The statute of limitations period depends on the severity of the crime. In Vermont, serious crimes like murder and kidnapping have no statute of limitations. The amount of time is shorter for petty crimes and misdemeanors.

This article explains Vermont’s criminal statutes of limitations, including the specific time limits for various criminal offenses. If you have questions about statutes of limitations, look to FindLaw or contact a Vermont criminal defense attorney for legal help.

Statutes of Limitations in Vermont

Vermont law does not have statutes of limitations for very serious crimes. This means the state can take a year, a decade, or even longer to prosecute an offender for these felonies.

Some of the crimes that have no statute of limitations in Vermont include:

• Murder
• Arson (causing death)
• Kidnapping
• Sexual assault
• Aggravated assault
• Aggravated sexual assault
• Human trafficking
• Aggravated human trafficking
• Manslaughter

Many sexual offenses involving young victims, such as sexual exploitation of children, have either no statute of limitation or have extended filing deadlines. Children are more vulnerable to abuse, and it can take decades for them to recall the abuse. This is why most state laws provide long statutes of limitations for these crimes. States have enacted longer periods to make prosecuting these cases possible.

Other serious felonies have a six-year statute of limitations. In the State of Vermont, these include:

• Sexual assault of a vulnerable adult
• Robbery
• Bribery
• Embezzlement
• Forgery
• Fraud
• Felony tax charges

Most other felonies and misdemeanors have a three-year statute of limitations. Other individual crimes can vary in the statute of limitations period.

Under Vermont state law, the statute of limitations starts running at the commission of the offense. There are no specific situations where it doesn’t run.

Vermont Criminal Statutes of Limitations: Summary

The chart below offers a handy recap of the criminal statutes of limitations in Vermont.

Disclaimer: State laws often change. Contact a Vermont criminal defense attorney or conduct legal research to verify your state laws.

Related Resources for Criminal Statute of Limitations

You can find more general information about criminal statutes of limitations and criminal trials here on FindLaw.

Below are some helpful resources on Vermont criminal law:

• Vermont Criminal Laws
• Vermont Criminal Statutes
• Vermont Statutes of Limitations
• Illegal Search and Seizure FAQ

An Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer in Vermont Can Help

If you’re facing criminal charges in Vermont and think the state has waited too long under the statute of limitations, you have options. Contact a skilled Vermont criminal defense attorney who knows the law and the local court rules.

Your lawyer will do their best to secure an acquittal or, at a minimum, negotiate a favorable plea bargain.