The Statute of Limitations: What Is It and Why Does it Matter?

When someone allegedly commits a crime, prosecutors only have a limited time to file charges against him or her. After that time period expires, the ability to prosecute the crime ends. Different crimes have different statutes of limitations. The limitations periods vary by state and by specific type of crime. In some cases, there may be “enhancement” or “tolling” laws that either increase the statute of limitations or stop the time period from running. Why Do the Laws Include Statutes of Limitations? Without statutes of limitations, anyone could be prosecuted for even a minor crime that took place many years beforehand....

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