A statute of limitations for criminal charges is the legal deadline for prosecutors to file a criminal case after an alleged offense happens.

Once that deadline runs out, the state usually cannot bring charges for that offense, even if police later find stronger evidence. The exact time limit depends on the crime. In Minnesota, those limits are set mainly by Minn. Stat. § 628.26 (2024), and they vary a lot by offense; some serious crimes, including murder, have no time limit at all. Other charges may have a shorter window measured in years, and the clock can sometimes pause or extend in specific situations.

Practically, this deadline affects how long a person accused of a crime may face prosecution and how quickly the state has to act. For victims and witnesses, it also matters because memories fade, records disappear, and surveillance or phone data may not last forever. A delay can make a case harder to prove or defend.

When an injury is involved - like an assault or a crash tied to DWI allegations - the criminal filing deadline is separate from the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim or wrongful death case. A criminal case may lead to restitution, but missing the criminal deadline does not automatically decide whether an injured person can still sue in civil court.