District Of Columbia § 23-113 - Limitations on actions for criminal violations.
Full text of District Of Columbia D.C. Code § 23-113 — Limitations on actions for criminal violations., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 23-113. Limitations on actions for criminal violations.
23-113A prosecution for the following crimes may be commenced at any time:
murder in the first or second degree (D.C. Official Code §§ and 2102 []);
murder in the second degree (D.C. Official Code );
murder of a law enforcement officer or public safety employee (D.C. Official Code );
first degree murder that constitutes an act of terrorism (D.C. Official Code );
second degree murder that constitutes an act of terrorism (D.C. Official Code ); and
murder of a law enforcement officer or public safety employee that constitutes an act of terrorism (D.C. Official Code §§ ).
A prosecution for the following crimes and any offense that is properly joinable with any of the following crimes is barred if not commenced within fifteen (15) years after it is committed:
first degree sexual abuse (D.C. Official Code );
second degree sexual abuse (D.C. Official Code );
first degree child sexual abuse (D.C. Official Code ); and
second degree child sexual abuse (D.C. Official Code ).
A prosecution for the following crimes and any offense that is properly joinable with any of the following crimes is barred if not commenced within ten (10) years after it is committed:
third degree sexual abuse (D.C. Official Code );
fourth degree sexual abuse (D.C. Official Code );
enticing a child for the purpose of committing felony sexual abuse (D.C Official Code );
first degree sexual abuse of a ward (D.C. Official Code );
second degree sexual abuse of a ward (D.C. Official Code );
first degree sexual abuse of a patient or client (D.C. Official Code );
second degree sexual abuse of a patient or client (D.C. Official Code );
using a minor in a sexual performance or promoting a sexual performance by a minor (D.C. Official Code );
incest (D.C. Official Code ); and
Trafficking in labor or commercial sex and sex trafficking of children as prohibited by [D.C. Official Code §§ and ], respectively;
Section [D.C. Official Code ];
Section [D.C. Official 22-2705]; and
Sections [D.C. Official Code §§ and ].
Except as provided in paragraph (6), a prosecution for a felony other than those crimes enumerated in paragraphs (1) through (3) is barred if not commenced within six (6) years after it is committed.
Except as provided in paragraph (6), a prosecution for any other criminal offense is barred if not commenced within three (3) years after it is committed.
A prosecution for a felony or a misdemeanor may be brought within three (3) years:
after a public officer or employee has left office, for any completed offense based on official conduct; or
after a fraud or breach of fiduciary trust has been, or reasonably should have been, discovered for any completed offense based on that fraud or breach of fiduciary trust; even if barred by the provisions of paragraphs (4) and (5):
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 on the day after the offense is committed or completed.
A prosecution is commenced when:
an indictment is entered;
an information is filed; or
a complaint is filed before a judicial officer empowered to issue an arrest warrant; provided, that such warrant is issued without unreasonable delay. A prosecution for an offense necessarily included in the offense charged shall be considered to have been timely commenced, even though the period of limitation for such included offense has expired, if the period of limitation has not expired for the offense charged and if there was, after the close of the evidence at trial, sufficient evidence as a matter of law to sustain a conviction for the offense charged.
The period of limitation for an offense, and any necessarily included offense, does not run during any time when a prosecution against the defendant for that offense is pending in the courts of the District of Columbia.
The period of limitation shall not begin to run until the victim reaches 21 years of age for the following offenses:
first degree child sexual abuse (D.C. Official Code );
second degree child sexual abuse (D.C. Official Code );
enticing a child for the purpose of committing felony sexual abuse (D.C. Official Code );
using a minor in a sexual performance or promoting a sexual performance by a minor (D.C. Official Code );
incest (D.C. Official Code ); and
Sections [D.C. Official Code 22-3009.01 and 22-3009.02];
Section [D.C. Official Code ];
Section [D.C. Official Code ];
Section [D.C. Official Code ], where the victim is a minor; and
Forced labor, trafficking in labor or commercial sex, sex trafficking of children, and benefitting financially from human trafficking as prohibited by the Human Trafficking Act [], where the victim is a minor.
The period of limitation shall not begin to run for first degree sexual abuse of a ward (D.C. Official Code ) or second degree sexual abuse of a ward (D.C. Official Code ) until the victim is no longer a ward.
The period of limitation shall not begin to run for first degree sexual abuse of a patient or client (D.C. Official Code ) or second degree sexual abuse of a patient or client (D.C. Official Code ) until the victim is no longer a patient or client of the actor.
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.
If a timely complaint, indictment, or information is dismissed for any error, defect, insufficiency, or irregularity, a new prosecution may be commenced within three (3) months after the dismissal becomes final even though the period of limitation has expired at the time of the dismissal or will expire within three (3) months thereafter.
No statute of limitations shall extend to any person fleeing from justice.
Annotations
Source: official District Of Columbia text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About District Of Columbia § 23-113
What does D.C. Code § 23-113 cover?
Section 23-113 ("Limitations on actions for criminal violations.") is part of the D.C. Code, the codified statutory law of District Of Columbia. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite District Of Columbia § 23-113?
A common citation format is "D.C. Code § 23-113" (District Of Columbia). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of District Of Columbia law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the District Of Columbia official source linked on this page or consult a licensed District Of Columbia attorney.
How does District Of Columbia § 23-113 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in District Of Columbia can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in District Of Columbia.