How many years does the court have to prosecute you before the charge is dropped?

Full question:

The Statue of Limitations holds up how? How many years does the court have to prosecute you before the charge is dropped, or is it ever dropped? Another words if someone was runnin from a forgery charge, how long before they could come home?

  • Category: Criminal
  • Subcategory: Statute of Limitations
  • Date:
  • State: South Carolina

Answer:

Please see the information at the following links:


http://definitions.uslegal.com/s/statute-of-limitations/

http://definitions.uslegal.com/f/forgery/

http://www.scstatehouse.net/CODE/t15c003.htm

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

The time limit for prosecution varies by crime. For most felonies, including forgery in South Carolina, the statute of limitations is typically three years (S.C. Code § 17-1-40). This means if charges are not filed within that period, the accused cannot be prosecuted for that offense. However, certain circumstances, like the accused fleeing, can extend this period.