What are the statute of limitations for various laws, ie armed robbery, etc. I’m in mississippi, just for reference. i’m sure they don’t vary THAT much from state to state. thanks in advance. Jason
Wrong assumption. They vary greatly from state to state and crime to crime.
Search your state’s info, you’ll be better off.
It is true that these laws may vary widely from state to state. But just for reference, I can give you the basics for Washington State.
Misdemeanors: 1 year (things like very minor theft, etc.)
Gross Misdemeanors: 2 years (simple assault, etc).
Most Felonies: 3 years (robbery, burglary, etc).
Arson: 10 years
Murder or Arson with Death: For ever
There are several more complicated ones, such as Child Rape, that have to be calculated depending on several circumstances.
thanks. i guess i will have to google some of mississippis laws.
MSU, just pop into your local police station, tell the cops what crimes you have committed, and ask them how much longer they have to find you.
Easy.
funny guy. really. another question: why is there no limit on murder? what if it is self defense or a mass murderer that you killed?
There’s no limit on murder because, well, it’s murder – it’s considered pretty much the worse thing you can do, the taking of another person’s life.
Self-defense is an affirmative defense to murder. You don’t lose it after a certain amount of time – it’s something you use to escape criminal sanction when you’re charged. If you have a valid claim of self-defense, it’s valid whether you’re charged the day after the incident or fifty years later.
Of course, because it’s an affirmative defense, the accused has the burden of proving it. The prosecution only has the burden of proving you guilty of the killing; if your defense is basically “yes, I killed the guy, but the killing was justified,” then it’s your burden to prove that you were in fact justified in killing the guy.
so how would you or your lawyer prove the killing was in self defense?
By providing evidence and testimony showing that your life was in immediate danger and bustin’ a cap in the other guy’s ass was necessary.
Note that different states have different requirements for when homicide in self defense is justified. In Texas, you’re allowed to claim self defense if someone looks at you funny. (That’s an exxageration. Don’t kill people who look at you funny.)
You’re asking for a short course in law that many of us lack the ability, the time and/or the desire to give you.
You prove it the same way you prove anything in a court of law - by presenting evidence according to the rules of evidence, which (like the statutes of limitations) vary depending on what you’re proving and how you’re doing it.