Full question:
How long, after receiving a complaint of child molestation, does the prosecutor have to actually file charges or drop the matter completely?
- Category: Criminal
- Date:
- State: Louisiana
Answer:
In Louisiana, the statute of limitations for child molestation varies based on the offense:
- For aggravated battery against a victim under seventeen, the statute of limitations begins when the victim turns seventeen.
- There is no statute of limitations for forcible rape.
- If DNA testing identifies the suspect, the statute of limitations extends for three years after the identification.
- Generally, for felonies punishable by hard labor, the period is six years after the offense. For felonies not punishable by hard labor, it is four years. For misdemeanors, it is two years.
For civil actions, a minor can file a claim for certain offenses, such as sexual abuse, for ten years after they turn eighteen (Rev. Stat. § 9:2800.9; Civ. Code art. 29).
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.