Some issues in white collar criminal defense arise over and over. I’ll periodically post Resource Guides to cover those issues. Feel free to suggest other Resource Guide topics in the comments.

Click here for a printable version of this statute of limitations Resource Guide.

Default Statute of Limitations

Generally, there is a 5-year statute of limitations for federal criminal matters. 18 U.S.C. § 3282.

Longer Statutes of Limitations

Although five years is the default statute of limitations, many federal crimes have a longer period.

Capital offenses, as an extreme example, have a limitation period that never expires. If a federal crime is punishable by death, the government can bring an indictment on that crime at any time after the crime has been committed. 18 U.S.C. 3281.

Congress has specifically extended the statute of limitations for a number of white-collar crimes.