What is Statute of Limitation?
The statute of limitations in criminology refers to the time limit within which a criminal prosecution must be initiated after a crime has been committed.
The purpose of the statute of limitations is to ensure that cases are resolved in a timely manner and to prevent the prosecution of stale claims.
The length of the statute of limitations varies depending on the jurisdiction and the type of crime. For example, in some jurisdictions, there may be no statute of limitations for crimes such as murder or treason, while other crimes may have shorter limitations periods ranging from a few years to several decades.
In general, the statute of limitations for criminal cases begins to run from the date that the crime was committed or, in some cases, from the date that the crime was discovered.
If the prosecution does not initiate a case within the prescribed time limit, the defendant may be able to assert the defense of statute of limitations to have the case dismissed.
It is important to note that the statute of limitations applies only to criminal prosecutions and does not prevent a victim from pursuing civil remedies such as filing a lawsuit for damages.
