2006 Massachusetts Code - Section 63. Limitations of criminal prosecutions; general provisions.

Section 63. An indictment for murder may be found at any time after the death of the person alleged to have been murdered. An indictment for an offense set forth in sections twenty-two, twenty-two A, twenty-three, twenty-four, and twenty-four B of chapter two hundred and sixty-five, or for conspiracy to commit any of said offenses or as an accessory thereto or any one or more of them may be found and filed within fifteen years of the date of commission of such offense. An indictment for an offense set forth in sections seventeen, eighteen, nineteen and twenty-one of said chapter two hundred and sixty-five or section seventeen of chapter two hundred and seventy-two or for conspiracy to commit any such crime or as an accessory thereto or any one or more of them may be found and filed within ten years of the date of commission of such offense. An indictment for any other crime shall be found and filed within six years after such crime has been committed; provided, however, that any period during which the defendant is not usually and publicly a resident within the commonwealth shall be excluded in determining the time limited.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, if a victim of a crime set forth in section thirteen B, thirteen F, thirteen H, twenty-two, twenty-two A, twenty-three, twenty-four B, or twenty-six A of chapter two hundred and sixty-five, or section one, two, three, four, four A, four B, five, six, seven, eight, twelve, thirteen, seventeen, twenty-six, twenty-eight, twenty-nine A, twenty-nine B, thirty-three, thirty-four, thirty-five or thirty-five A of chapter two hundred and seventy-two is under the age of sixteen at the time such crime is committed, the period of limitation for prosecution shall not commence until the victim has reached the age of sixteen or the violation is reported to a law enforcement agency, whichever occurs earlier.