New Jersey § 2c:1-6

§ 2c:1-6.

Time Limitations. a. (1) A prosecution for any offense set forth in N.J.S.2C:11-3 , N.J.S.2C:11-4 , N.J.S.2C:14-2 or sections 1 through 5 of P.L.2002, c. 26 ( C.2C:38-1 through C.2C:38-5 ) may be commenced at any time. (2) A prosecution for any offense set forth in N.J.S.2C:17-2 , section 9 of P.L.1970, c. 39 ( C.13:1E-9 ), section 20 of P.L.1989, c. 34 ( C.13:1E-48.20 ), section 19 of P.L.1954, c. 212 ( C.26:2C-19 ), section 10 of P.L.1984, c. 173 ( C.34:5A-41 ), or section 10 of P.L.1977, c. 74 ( C.58:10A-10 ) may be commenced at any time. b. Except as otherwise provided in this section, prosecutions for other offenses are

subject to the following periods of limitations: (1) A prosecution for a crime must be commenced within five years after it is committed; (2) A prosecution for a disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense

must be commenced within one year after it is committed; (3) A prosecution for any offense set forth in N.J.S.2C:27-2 , N.J.S.2C:27-4 , N.J.S.2C:27-6 , N.J.S.2C:27-7 , N.J.S.2C:29-4 , N.J.S.2C:30-2 , N. J.S.2C:30-3 , or any attempt or conspiracy to commit such an offense, must be commenced within

seven years after the commission of the offense; (4) A prosecution for an offense set forth in N.J.S.2C:14-3 or N.J.S.2C:24-4 , when the victim at the time of the offense is below the age of 18 years, must be

commenced within five years of the victim's attaining the age of 18 or within two

years of the discovery of the offense by the victim, whichever is later; (5) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2007, c. 131 ) . c. 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, except that when the

prosecution is supported by physical evidence that identifies the actor by means of

DNA testing or fingerprint analysis, time does not start to run until the State is

in possession of both the physical evidence and the DNA or fingerprint evidence necessary

to establish the identification of the actor by means of comparison to the physical

evidence. d. A prosecution is commenced for a crime when an indictment is found and for a nonindictable

offense when a warrant or other process is issued, provided that such warrant or process

is executed without unreasonable delay. Nothing contained in this section, however, shall be deemed to prohibit the downgrading

of an offense at any time if the prosecution of the greater offense was commenced

within the statute of limitations applicable to the greater offense. 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. 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.