What crimes have a Statutes of limitations?

Answer 1

Statutes of Limitations are laws relating to the permitted or required timing in particular situations. They cover a range of matters including such things as crime, operation of the criminal courts, and for the regulating and ordering of business activities.

Various Statutes Of Limitations relate to such matters as:

(i) how long a person has to 'sit on the edge' waiting for the state to charge them with a crime. Criminal Statute of Limitations are set by individual states and in some cases Federal Laws. A listing of the crimes that have one would also have to be broken down by every state. Many states have determined that some crimes e.g. felonies such as murder or rape, don't have a statute of limitations.

(ii) the time after which certain old debts cannot be collected,

(iii) how long certain documents must be retained, such as business records and written copies of contracts.

Example re outstanding debt:

In Georgia (USA), on January 24, 2008, the Court of Appeals decided in a case that, in Georgia, the statute of limitations on a credit card debt is six years after the amount becomes due and payable. i.e. the credit card company cannot start chasing the debt if they have not been chasing it for the entire six years after the date that the debt was first due to be settled.

Simlarly, in the UK, the Limitation Act 1980 specifies

• the details on how long a creditor has to take action against another for a debt i.e. take them to court.(6 years)

• How long Insurance certificates/records should be kept ( Employers Liability Insurance 40 years, Public Liability Insurance 21 years)

In the matters of debt and retention of documents, the consequences for ignoring such statutes range from being barred at law from chasing otherwise legitimate debts, to the fines and resulting bad publicity which will undoubtedly draw attention to the company's irresponsible attitudes towards proper record-keeping and the law.

Answer 2

That will depend on what jurisdiction the charges are being brought in. Many do not have a limit for serious crimes such as murder or rape. Other states have none for any felony.