What Is the Statute of Limitations?
A person charged with a crime must be prosecuted within a certain period of time, or they may be let go by authorities. Due to the statute of limitations, prosecutors have a certain timeframe to work within if they want to convict a defendant of a crime. If they wait too long with the legal proceedings, the time limit provided by the statute of limitations may expire. This effectively allows that individual to walk free.
If you’ve been charged with a crime that occurred several years ago, you may be eligible to cite the statute of limitations for your defense. To learn more about this legal principle and how it may be able to work for your benefit, contact the New Jersey criminal defense lawyers of the Law Offices of Jason A. Volet, LLC, today at 732-503-8968.
How Does the Statute of Limitations Work?
In the state of New Jersey, the statute of limitations is set at different levels for different crimes. As long as a person’s crime isn’t considered an exemption to the general rule, they may avoid conviction if the prosecution doesn’t work fast enough.
The rules for the statute of limitations work in the following ways in New Jersey:
- The usual period of time in which prosecution for a crime is possible is 5 years
- There is no limitation for murder or manslaughter
- Misconduct from officials has a 7 year limitation
- Petty offenses run a 1 year limitation
This time may be effectively extended if a person attempts to flee the authorities.
Contact Us
If you’re facing allegations of committing a crime that may have exceeded the criminal statute of limitations for New Jersey, we may be able to help you fight these charges. For a free consultation, contact the New Jersey criminal defense attorneys of the Law Offices of Jason A. Volet, LLC, by calling 732-503-8968 today.
