The statute of limitations is how long a person has to be charged with a crime before the state or federal government is no longer legally allowed to press charges. The statute varies by crime and state, and some crimes, such as murder, have no statute of limitations. Furthermore, certain conditions, such as leaving the state, can cause the statute to toll, which means that it cannot expire until the person has returned to the state.
Answered on Sep 27th, 2013 at 3:45 AM