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Criminal Statutes of Limitations
New Jersey

Last Updated: April 2023
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Sexual Assault Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. There is no time limit for sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: N.J. Stat. § 2C:14-2.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: N.J. Stat. § 2C:1-6.





Criminal Sexual Contact Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Within five years after commission of the offense; or
  2. When victim was under 18 at the time of commission of the offense, within five years after victim reaches the age of 18 or within two years after discovery of the offense by the victim, whichever occurs later.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: N.J. Stat. § 2C:14-3.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: N.J. Stat. § 2C:1-6.





Lewdness Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Within one year after commission of the offense if a disorderly persons offense; or
  2. Within five years after commission of the offense.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: N.J. Stat. § 2C:14-4.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: N.J. Stat. § 2C:1-6.





Invasion of privacy; observation of sexual contact; reproduction or disclosure of images of sexual contact; dressing rooms; defenses Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Within five years after commission of the offense.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: N.J. Stat. § 2C:14-9.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: N.J. Stat. § 2C:1-6.





Endangering welfare of children Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Within five years after commission of the offense; or
  2. When victim was under 18 at the time of commission of the offense, within five years after victim reaches the age of 18 or within two years after discovery of the offense by the victim, whichever occurs later.

Note that State v. Higginbotham, 257 N.J. 260, 313 A.3d 847 (2024) struck down subsection (c) of the child endangerment statute as unconstitutionally overbroad while preserving the rest of the statute.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: N.J. Stat. § 2C:24-4.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: N.J. Stat. § 2C:1-6.





Genital mutilation of females under 18 years of age Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. Within five years after commission of the offense.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: N.J. Stat. § 2C:24-10.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: N.J. Stat. § 2C:1-6.





Are there any exceptions to the statute of limitations laws? Answer
Exceptions
  • N.J. Stat. § 2C:1-6 Time limitations
    • (c) When the prosecution is supported by physical evidence that identifies the offender by means of DNA testing or fingerprint analysis, time begins to run when the State is in possession of both the physical evidence and the DNA or fingerprint evidence necessary to establish the identification of the offender.





Anything else I should know? Answer
Anything else I should know?
  • N.J. Stat. § 2C:1-6
    • (e) The period of limitation does not run during any time when a prosecution against the accused for the same conduct is pending in this State.
    • (f) The limitations in this section shall not apply to any person fleeing from justice.
  • State v. Nagle, 545 A.2d 182 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1988):
    • Extended statute of limitations may constitutionally apply to a crime occurring before its effective date, if that date is before the expiration of the period provided by the prior statute of limitations.
  • Civil Actions
    • N.J. Stat. § 2A:61B-1  Specific Civil Actions; Sexual Abuse; Definitions; civil remedy; period of limitations; evidence; closed circuit testimony; confidentiality; in camera proceedings; damages
      • In any civil action for injury or illness based on sexual abuse, the cause of action shall accrue at the time of reasonable discovery of the injury and its causal relationship to the act of sexual abuse.  Any such action shall be brought within two years after reasonable discovery. 
    • N.J. Stat. § 2C:1-6 Time limitations
      • (g) Except as otherwise provided in this code, no civil action shall be brought pursuant to this code more than five years after such action accrues.