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Criminal Statutes of Limitations in Tennessee

How long prosecutors in Tennessee have to file charges for felonies and misdemeanors, and which crimes have no time limit.

Short answer: A person may be prosecuted at any time for an offense punishable with death or by imprisonment in the penitentiary during life. Otherwise, prosecution for a felony must begin within 15 years for a Class A felony; Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-2-101(a), (b), (g)-(q); 40-2-102(a)

Criminal statutes of limitationsA person may be prosecuted at any time for an offense punishable with death or by imprisonment in the penitentiary during life. Otherwise, prosecution for a felony must begin within 15 years for a Class A felony; 8 years for a Class B felony; 4 years for a Class C or Class D felony; and 2 years for a Class E felony. Prosecutions for misdemeanors must be commenced within 12 months after the offense was committed (with listed exceptions). Many child sexual abuse offenses have longer periods measured from the date the child turns 18 (for example, 25 years for listed offenses committed on or after the dates set in the statute), and some offenses against minors may be prosecuted at any time in specified circumstances.
§ 40-2-102: https://codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-40-criminal-procedure/tn-code-sect-40-2-102/ . Read on codes.findlaw.com (a public copy of the official code); check against the official code. Mirror pages state they are current as of January 2, 2024.
Source: Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-2-101(a), (b), (g)-(q); 40-2-102(a)

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FAQ

What is the statute of limitations for crimes in Tennessee?
A person may be prosecuted at any time for an offense punishable with death or by imprisonment in the penitentiary during life. Otherwise, prosecution for a felony must begin within 15 years for a Class A felony; 8 years for a Class B felony; 4 years for a Class C or Class D felony; and 2 years for a Class E felony. Prosecutions for misdemeanors must be commenced within 12 months after the offense was committed (with listed exceptions). Many child sexual abuse offenses have longer periods measured from the date the child turns 18 (for example, 25 years for listed offenses committed on or after the dates set in the statute), and some offenses against minors may be prosecuted at any time in specified circumstances.

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.