2021 Indiana Code
Title 35. Criminal Law and Procedure
Article 41. Substantive Criminal Provisions
Chapter 4. Standard of Proof and Bars to Prosecution
35-41-4-2. Periods of Limitation

Sec. 2. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a prosecution for an offense is barred unless it is commenced:

(1) within five (5) years after the commission of the offense, in the case of a Class B, Class C, or Class D felony (for a crime committed before July 1, 2014) or a Level 3, Level 4, Level 5, or Level 6 felony (for a crime committed after June 30, 2014); or

(2) within two (2) years after the commission of the offense, in the case of a misdemeanor.

(b) A prosecution for a Class B or Class C felony (for a crime committed before July 1, 2014) or a Level 3, Level 4, or Level 5 felony (for a crime committed after June 30, 2014) that would otherwise be barred under this section may be commenced within one (1) year after the earlier of the date on which the state:

(1) first discovers evidence sufficient to charge the offender with the offense through DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) analysis; or

(2) could have discovered evidence sufficient to charge the offender with the offense through DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) analysis by the exercise of due diligence.

(c) Except as provided in subsection (e), a prosecution for a Class A felony (for a crime committed before July 1, 2014) or a Level 1 felony or Level 2 felony (for a crime committed after June 30, 2014) may be commenced at any time.

(d) A prosecution for murder may be commenced:

(1) at any time; and

(2) regardless of the amount of time that passes between:

(A) the date a person allegedly commits the elements of murder; and

(B) the date the alleged victim of the murder dies.

(e) Except as provided in subsection (p), a prosecution for the following offenses is barred unless commenced before the date that the alleged victim of the offense reaches thirty-one (31) years of age:

(1) IC 35-42-4-3 (Child molesting).

(2) IC 35-42-4-5 (Vicarious sexual gratification).

(3) IC 35-42-4-6 (Child solicitation).

(4) IC 35-42-4-7 (Child seduction).

(5) IC 35-42-4-9 (Sexual misconduct with a minor).

(6) IC 35-46-1-3 (Incest).

(f) A prosecution for forgery of an instrument for payment of money, or for the uttering of a forged instrument, under IC 35-43-5-2, is barred unless it is commenced within five (5) years after the maturity of the instrument.

(g) If a complaint, indictment, or information is dismissed because of an error, defect, insufficiency, or irregularity, a new prosecution may be commenced within ninety (90) days after the dismissal even if the period of limitation has expired at the time of dismissal, or will expire within ninety (90) days after the dismissal.

(h) The period within which a prosecution must be commenced does not include any period in which:

(1) the accused person is not usually and publicly resident in Indiana or so conceals himself or herself that process cannot be served;

(2) the accused person conceals evidence of the offense, and evidence sufficient to charge the person with that offense is unknown to the prosecuting authority and could not have been discovered by that authority by exercise of due diligence; or

(3) the accused person is a person elected or appointed to office under statute or constitution, if the offense charged is theft or conversion of public funds or bribery while in public office.

(i) For purposes of tolling the period of limitation only, a prosecution is considered commenced on the earliest of these dates:

(1) The date of filing of an indictment, information, or complaint before a court having jurisdiction.

(2) The date of issuance of a valid arrest warrant.

(3) The date of arrest of the accused person by a law enforcement officer without a warrant, if the officer has authority to make the arrest.

(j) A prosecution is considered timely commenced for any offense to which the defendant enters a plea of guilty, notwithstanding that the period of limitation has expired.

(k) The following apply to the specified offenses:

(1) A prosecution for an offense under IC 30-2-9-7(b) (misuse of funeral trust funds) is barred unless commenced within five (5) years after the date of death of the settlor (as described in IC 30-2-9).

(2) A prosecution for an offense under IC 30-2-10-9(b) (misuse of funeral trust funds) is barred unless commenced within five (5) years after the date of death of the settlor (as described in IC 30-2-10).

(3) A prosecution for an offense under IC 30-2-13-38(f) (misuse of funeral trust or escrow account funds) is barred unless commenced within five (5) years after the date of death of the purchaser (as defined in IC 30-2-13-9).

(l) A prosecution for an offense under IC 23-2-6, IC 23-2.5, IC 23-14-48-9, or IC 23-19 is barred unless commenced within five (5) years after the earlier of the date on which the state:

(1) first discovers evidence sufficient to charge the offender with the offense; or

(2) could have discovered evidence sufficient to charge the offender with the offense by the exercise of due diligence.

(m) A prosecution for a sex offense listed in IC 11-8-8-4.5 that is committed against a child and that is not:

(1) a Class A felony (for a crime committed before July 1, 2014) or a Level 1 felony or Level 2 felony (for a crime committed after June 30, 2014); or

(2) listed in subsection (e);

is barred unless commenced within ten (10) years after the commission of the offense, or within four (4) years after the person ceases to be a dependent of the person alleged to have committed the offense, whichever occurs later.

(n) A prosecution for rape (IC 35-42-4-1) as a Class B felony (for a crime committed before July 1, 2014) or as a Level 3 felony (for a crime committed after June 30, 2014) that would otherwise be barred under this section may be commenced not later than five (5) years after the earlier of the date on which:

(1) the state first discovers evidence sufficient to charge the offender with the offense through DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) analysis;

(2) the state first becomes aware of the existence of a recording (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-273) that provides evidence sufficient to charge the offender with the offense; or

(3) a person confesses to the offense.

(o) A prosecution for criminal deviate conduct (IC 35-42-4-2) (repealed) as a Class B felony for a crime committed before July 1, 2014, that would otherwise be barred under this section may be commenced not later than five (5) years after the earliest of the date on which:

(1) the state first discovers evidence sufficient to charge the offender with the offense through DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) analysis;

(2) the state first becomes aware of the existence of a recording (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-273) that provides evidence sufficient to charge the offender with the offense; or

(3) a person confesses to the offense.

(p) A prosecution for an offense described in subsection (e) that would otherwise be barred under this section may be commenced not later than five (5) years after the earliest of the date on which:

(1) the state first discovers evidence sufficient to charge the offender with the offense through DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) analysis;

(2) the state first becomes aware of the existence of a recording (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-273) that provides evidence sufficient to charge the offender with the offense; or

(3) a person confesses to the offense.

As added by Acts 1976, P.L.148, SEC.1. Amended by Acts 1977, P.L.340, SEC.17; P.L.309-1985, SEC.2; P.L.232-1993, SEC.3; P.L.9-2000, SEC.1; P.L.48-2001, SEC.1; P.L.1-2002, SEC.149; P.L.97-2004, SEC.124; P.L.6-2006, SEC.7; P.L.140-2006, SEC.30; P.L.173-2006, SEC.30; P.L.143-2009, SEC.47; P.L.44-2013, SEC.2; P.L.158-2013, SEC.407; P.L.168-2014, SEC.63; P.L.72-2015, SEC.1; P.L.70-2016, SEC.4; P.L.158-2017, SEC.15; P.L.40-2019, SEC.7; P.L.175-2019, SEC.9; P.L.211-2019, SEC.45; P.L.31-2020, SEC.2.