Criminal Statutes of Limitations
District of Columbia

Last Updated: March 2020
Export to PDF
Incest Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution may be commenced at any time. 

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-1901.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(U). 





Sexual abuse, first degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution may be commenced at any time. 

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-3002.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(G).





Sexual abuse, second degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution may be commenced at any time. 

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-3003.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(H).





Sexual abuse, third degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution may be commenced at any time. 

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-3004.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(I).





Sexual abuse, fourth degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution may be commenced at any time

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-3005.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(J).





Misdemeanor sexual abuse Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution must commence within three years after commission of the offense.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-3006.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(5).





Child sexual abuse, first degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution may be commenced at any time. 

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-3008.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(K).





Child sexual abuse, second degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution may be commenced at any time. 

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-3009.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(L).





Sexual abuse of a minor, first degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution may be commenced at any time. 

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-3009.01.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(M).





Sexual abuse of a minor, second degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution may be commenced at any time. 

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-3009.02.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(N).





Misdemeanor sexual abuse of a child or minor Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution must commence within three years after commission of the offense.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-3010.01.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(5).





Sexual abuse of a ward, patient, client, or prisoner, first degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution may be commenced at any time. 

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-3013.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(Q).





Sexual abuse of a ward, patient, client, or prisoner, second degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution may be commenced at any time. 

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-3014.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(R).





Sexual abuse of a patient or client, first degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution may be commenced at any time. 

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-3015.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(S).





Sexual abuse of a patient or client, second degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution may be commenced at any time. 

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-3016.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(T).





Abducting or enticing a child from the home for purposes of prostitution Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution must commence within 10 years after commission of the offense.
  2. This time does not begin to run until victim reaches 21.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-2704.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(3)(K) and (d)(2)(G).





Pandering, or inducing, or compelling individual to engage in prostitution Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution must commence within 10 years after commission of the offense.
  2. This time does not begin to run until victim reaches 21.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-2705.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(3)(L) and (d)(2)(H).





Compelling an individual to live a life of prostitution against their will Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution must commence within 10 years after commission of the offense.
  2. If the victim was a minor at the time of the offense, this time does not begin to run until victim reaches 21.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-2706.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(3)(M) and (d)(2)(I).





Enticing a child for the purpose of committing felony sexual abuse Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution must commence within 10 years after commission of the offense.
  2. This time does not begin to run until victim reaches 21.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-3010.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(3)(C) and (d)(2)(C).





Sexual abuse of a secondary education student, first degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution may be commenced at any time. 

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-3009.03.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(O).





Sexual abuse of a secondary education student, second degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution may be commenced at any time. 

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-3009.04.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(P).    





Causing spouse or domestic partner to live in prostitution Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution must commence within 10 years after commission of the offense.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-2708.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(3)(N).    





Arranging for sexual contact with a real or fictitious child Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution must commence within six years after commission of the offense.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-3010.02.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(4).   





Trafficking in labor or commercial sex acts Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution must commence within 10 years after commission of the offense.
  2. If the victim was a minor at the time of the offense, this time does not begin to run until the victim reaches 21.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-1833.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(3)(J) and (d)(2)(J).    





Sex trafficking of children Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution must commence within 10 years after commission of the offense.
  2. If the victim was a minor at the time of the offense, this time does not begin to run until the victim reaches 21.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: D.C. Code § 22-1834.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(3)(J) and (d)(2)(J).      





Using a minor in a sexual performance or promoting sexual performance by a minor Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Prosecution must commence within 10 years after commission of the offense.
  2. This time does not begin to run until the victim reaches 21.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime:  D.C. Code § 22-3102.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations:  D.C. Code §§ 23-113(a)(3)(H), (d)(2)(D).    





Are there any exceptions to the statute of limitations laws? Answer
Exceptions

D.C. Code § 23-113(f):  No statute of limitations shall extend to any person fleeing from justice.





Anything else I should know? Answer
Anything else I should know?
  • D.C. Code § 23-113(b):  An offense is committed either when every element occurs, or, if a legislative purpose to prohibit a continuing course of conduct plainly appears, at the time when the course of conduct, or the defendant’s complicity therein, is terminated.  Time starts to run the day after the offense is committed or completed.
  • D.C. Code § 23-113(d)(5): The period of limitation shall not begin to run for forced labor, trafficking in labor or commercial sex, sex trafficking of children, and benefitting financially from human trafficking until the victim is no longer subject to the means used to obtain or maintain his or her labor or services or commercial sex acts.







DNA evidence can increase likelihood of holding a perpetrator accountable.

Read More

Sexual violence has fallen by half in the last 20 years.

More Stats

The National Sexual Assault Hotline will always be free — with your help.

Donate Now