Editing Statute of limitations (section)

====Criminal statutes====
A criminal statute of limitations defines a time period during which charges must be initiated for a criminal offense.<ref>{{cite web |last=Doyle |first=Charles |title=Statute of Limitation in Federal Criminal Cases: An Overview |url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL31253.pdf |publisher=Congressional Research Service |access-date=18 March 2018|date=14 November 2017}}</ref> If a charge is filed after the statute of limitations expires, the defendant may obtain dismissal of the charge.

=====Initiation of charges=====
The statute of limitations in a criminal case only runs until a criminal charge is filed and a warrant issued, even if the defendant is a fugitive.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Grossman|first1=Jonathan|title=Speedy Trial and the Statute of Limitations |url=http://www.sdap.org/downloads/research/criminal/jg14.pdf|website=Sixth District Appellate Program|access-date=6 December 2017|date=2014}}</ref> When the identity of a defendant is not known, some jurisdictions provide mechanisms to initiate charges and thus stop the statute of limitations from running. For example, some states allow an indictment of a [[John Doe]] defendant based upon a DNA profile derived from evidence obtained through a criminal investigation.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ullmer|first1=Frank B.|title=Using DNA Profiles to Obtain John Doe Arrest Warrants and Indictments |journal=Washington & Lee Law Review|date=2001|volume=58|page=1585|url=http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/waslee58&div=52&id=&page=|access-date=6 December 2017}}</ref> Although rare, a [[grand jury]] can issue an [[indictment]] [[trial in absentia|in absentia]] for high-profile crimes to get around an upcoming statute of limitations deadline. One example is the [[skyjacking]] of Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 by [[D. B. Cooper]] in 1971. The identity of D. B. Cooper remains unknown, and he was indicted under the name "John Doe, aka Dan Cooper."<ref>{{cite web |authorlink=Bryan Denson |last=Denson |first=Bryan |date=24 November 1996 |title=D.B. Cooper legend lives. |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2011/08/25_years_later_db_cooper_legend_lives_the_oregonian_archives.html |work=Oregon Live archive |accessdate=6 March 2011}}</ref>

====={{anchor|Heinous crimes in the United States}}Heinous crimes=====
Crimes which are widely considered heinous have no statute of limitations. Although there is usually no statute of limitations for murder (particularly [[first-degree murder]]), judges have been known to dismiss murder charges in [[cold case]]s if they feel that the delay violates the defendant's right to a speedy trial.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sixth Amendment - Limited Protection Against Excessive Prosecutorial Delay|url=http://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6346&context=jclc|website=Northwestern University School of Law|publisher=The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology|access-date=12 October 2014}}</ref> For example, waiting many years for an [[alibi]] witness to die before commencing a murder trial would be unconstitutional.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

=====Military law=====
Under the U.S. [[Uniform Code of Military Justice]] (UCMJ), [[desertion]] has no statute of limitations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/airman-who-went-missing-in-1977-found-living-double-life-in-florida|title=Airman who went missing in 1977 found living double life in Florida|date=17 October 2017|website=Fox News}}</ref>

'''Maritime Injury Law'''

Under [https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/46/30106 46 U.S. Code § 30106], "Except as otherwise provided by law, a civil action for damages for personal injury or death arising out of a maritime tort must be brought within 3 years after the cause of action arose." There are some exceptions to this, primarily with regard to Jones Act cases filed against the government, in which case the statute of limitations can be less than 2 years.<ref>{{cite web |title=33 U.S. Code § 913 - Filing of claims |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/33/913 |website=Legal Information Institute |publisher=Cornell Law School |access-date=31 December 2018}}</ref>

=====State laws=====
{{incomplete table|date=September 2022}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! State
! Misdemeanor
! Felony
! Notes
|-
|[[Connecticut]]
|1 year<ref name="legreport">{{cite web |last1=Reinhart |first1=Christopher |title=Statute of Limitations for Prosecutions |url=https://www.cga.ct.gov/2015/rpt/pdf/2015-R-0098.pdf |website=Office of Legislative Research Research Report |publisher=State of Connecticut |access-date=22 May 2020 |date=6 March 2015}}</ref>
|
* Terrorism not resulting in death: 30 years
* Manslaughter: 25 years
* Rape: 15 years
* Violent felonies: 10 years
* Nonviolent felonies: 5 years
* Nonviolent felonies committed by a minor: 2 years{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}
|A bill was proposed to abolish the statute of limitations for most sex offenses, but it was not submitted for a vote in the [[Connecticut State Senate|state senate]]. Efforts continue to pass legislation to extend the limitations period for the prosecution of sex offenses.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Krasselt |first1=Kaitlyn |title=Legislature unlikely to eliminate civil statute of limitations for sex abuse |url=https://www.ctpost.com/politics/article/Legislature-unlikely-to-eliminate-civil-statute-15072024.php |access-date=22 May 2020 |publisher=Connecticut Post |date=20 February 2020}}</ref>
|-
|[[Michigan]]
|6 years
|
* Murder: No limits
* Kidnapping, extortion, assault with intent or conspiracy to murder: 10 years
* Sexual conduct, violence or abuse:
** If DNA evidence is present but offender has not been identified: No limits
** If DNA evidence is present and offender identified or when the victim turns 21, whichever is earlier: 10 years
** Against a minor (below the age of 18): 10 years
* Others: 6 years{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}
|Statute of limitation tolls if defendant is not a resident and did not usually and publicly reside in the state. See [http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-767-24 MCL 767.24]
|-
|[[North Carolina]]
|2 years
|No limits
|No statute of limitations for "malicious misdemeanors", per [https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByChapter/Chapter_15.pdf NCGS §15-1]
|-
|[[Utah]]
|
|
* Sexual conduct, violence, or abuse against a minor (below the age of 18): 10 years after the victim becomes 18 years old<ref>{{Cite web |title=Utah Code Section 76-1-301.1 |url=https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter1/76-1-S301.1.html?v=C76-1-S301.1_2020051220200512 |access-date=2022-12-26 |website=le.utah.gov}}</ref>
* Murder, rape, manslaughter, aggravated kidnapping: No limits<ref>{{Cite web |title=Utah Code Section 76-1-301 |url=https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter1/76-1-S301.html?v=C76-1-S301_2022050420220504 |access-date=2022-12-26 |website=le.utah.gov}}</ref>
|
|}