Statute of Limitations Halts Sexual Assault Prosecution in Some States

Why it matters locally: Minnesota law currently has a 30-year statute of limitations for felony-level criminal sexual conduct offenses where the victim is under 18 at the time of the offense, and no statute of limitations for certain offenses involving victims under 13. For other felony sexual assault cases, the statute of limitations is generally three years, which can impact the ability of local law enforcement like the Minneapolis Police Department or the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office to pursue older cases.

Law enforcement agencies in several U.S. states encounter situations where they identify a suspect in a sexual assault case but cannot pursue prosecution due to the expiration of the state's statute of limitations. This legal deadline establishes the maximum time after an event during which legal proceedings can be initiated. After this specific period passes, authorities lose the ability to file criminal charges for the sexual assault, regardless of evidence or the identification of a perpetrator. State laws vary concerning the length of these statutes of limitations for sexual assault offenses.