Which offense category has a five-year statute of limitations?

• A. Capital felony
• B. 2nd degree felony
• C. 3rd degree felony
• D. Petty misdemeanor

Answer: (C)

The time limit for prosecuting a crime, the statute of limitations, is set by how serious the offense is. A five-year window is typically tied to mid-level felonies. That means offenses categorized as a third-degree felony normally must be charged within five years of the alleged crime; otherwise, the case can be barred. Capital felonies are the most serious and in many places have no statute of limitations, so they can be charged at any time. Petty misdemeanors are the least serious and usually have very short limits, often around one year or less. Second-degree felonies generally have a longer window than five years in many jurisdictions, or are governed by a separate limit. So the category with a five-year limit is the third-degree felony.