(a) A person may be prosecuted, tried and punished for an offense punishable with death or by imprisonment in the penitentiary during life, at any time after the offense is committed.

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class A felony15 to 60 yearsup to $50,000
class B felony8 to 30 yearsup to $25,000
class D felony2 to 12 yearsup to $5,000
class E felony1 to 6 yearsup to $3,000
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 40-2-101

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Age of majority: means eighteen (18) years of age or older. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Minor: means any person who has not attained eighteen (18) years of age. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • sex: means a person's immutable biological sex as determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth and evidence of a person's biological sex. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) Prosecution for a felony offense shall begin within:

(1) Fifteen (15) years for a Class A felony;
(2) Eight (8) years for a Class B felony;
(3) Four (4) years for a Class C or Class D felony; and
(4) Two (2) years for a Class E felony.
(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), offenses arising under the revenue laws of the state shall be commenced within the three (3) years following the commission of the offense, except that the period of limitation of prosecution shall be six (6) years in the following instances:

(1) Offenses involving the defrauding or attempting to defraud the state of Tennessee or any agency of the state, whether by conspiracy or not, and in any manner;
(2) The offense of willfully attempting in any manner to evade or defeat any tax or the payment of a tax;
(3) The offense of willfully aiding or abetting, or procuring, counseling or advising, the preparation or presentation under, or in connection with, any matter arising under the revenue laws of the state, or a false or fraudulent return, affidavit, claim or document, whether or not the falsity or fraud is with the knowledge or consent of the person authorized or required to present the return, affidavit, claim or document; and
(4) The offense of willfully failing to pay any tax, or make any return at the time or times required by law or regulation.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (b)(3) to the contrary, prosecution for the offense of arson as prohibited by § 39-14-301 shall commence within eight (8) years from the date the offense occurs.
(e) Prosecutions for any offense committed against a child prior to July 1, 1997, that constitutes a criminal offense under [former] § 39-2-601 [repealed], [former] § 39-2-603 [repealed], [former] § 39-2-604 [repealed], [former] § 39-2-606 [repealed], [former] § 39-2-607 [repealed], [former] § 39-2-608 [repealed], [former] § 39-2-612 [repealed], [former] § 39-4-306 [repealed], [former] § 39-4-307 [repealed], [former] § 39-6-1137 [repealed], or [former] § 39-6-1138 [repealed], or under §§ 39-13-502 – 39-13-505, § 39-15-302 or § 39-17-902 shall commence no later than the date the child attains the age of majority or within four (4) years after the commission of the offense, whichever occurs later; provided, that pursuant to subsection (a), an offense punishable by life imprisonment may be prosecuted at any time after the offense has been committed.
(f) For offenses committed prior to November 1, 1989, the limitation of prosecution in effect at that time shall govern.
(g)

(1) Prosecutions for any offense committed against a child on or after July 1, 1997, that constitutes a criminal offense under § 39-17-902 shall commence no later than the date the child reaches twenty-one (21) years of age; provided, that if subsection (a) or (b) provides a longer period of time within which prosecution may be brought than this subsection (g), the applicable provision of subsection (a) or (b) shall prevail.
(2) Prosecutions for any offense committed against a child on or after July 1, 1997, but prior to June 20, 2006, that constitutes a criminal offense under §§ 39-13-502 – 39-13-505, § 39-13-522 or § 39-15-302 shall commence no later than the date the child reaches twenty-one (21) years of age; provided, that if subsection (a) or (b) provides a longer period of time within which prosecution may be brought than this subsection (g), the applicable provision of subsection (a) or (b) shall prevail.
(h)

(1) A person may be prosecuted, tried and punished for any offense committed against a child on or after June 20, 2006, that constitutes a criminal offense under § 39-13-504, § 39-13-505, § 39-13-527 or § 39-15-302, no later than twenty-five (25) years from the date the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age.
(2) A person may be prosecuted, tried and punished for any offense committed against a child on or after June 20, 2006, that constitutes a criminal offense under § 39-13-502, § 39-13-503 or § 39-13-522 no later than twenty-five (25) years from the date the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age.
(i)

(1) A person may be prosecuted, tried and punished for any offense committed against a child on or after July 1, 2007, that constitutes a criminal offense under § 39-13-532, no later than twenty-five (25) years from the date the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age.
(2) A person may be prosecuted, tried and punished for any offense committed against a child on or after July 1, 2007, that constitutes a criminal offense under § 39-13-531, no later than twenty-five (25) years from the date the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age.
(j) A person may be prosecuted, tried and punished for any offense committed against a child on or after July 1, 2012, that constitutes a criminal offense under § 39-17-902, § 39-17-1003, § 39-17-1004, or § 39-17-1005, no later than twenty-five (25) years from the date the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age.
(k)

(1) A person may be prosecuted, tried and punished for any offense committed against a child on or after July 1, 2013, that constitutes a criminal offense under § 39-13-309 or § 39-13-529, no later than fifteen (15) years from the date the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age.
(2) A person may be prosecuted, tried, and punished for any offense committed against a child on or after July 1, 2013, that constitutes a criminal offense under § 39-13-514 no later than ten (10) years from the date the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age.
(3)

(A) A person may be prosecuted, tried, and punished for any offense committed against a child on or after July 1, 2013, but prior to July 1, 2015, that constitutes a criminal offense under § 39-13-515 no later than ten (10) years from the date the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age.
(B) A person may be prosecuted, tried, and punished for any offense committed against a child on or after July 1, 2015, that constitutes a criminal offense under § 39-13-515 no later than twenty-five (25) years from the date the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age.
(l)

(1) Notwithstanding subsections (b), (g), (h), and (i) to the contrary, a person may be prosecuted, tried, and punished at any time after the commission of an offense if:

(A) The offense was one (1) of the following:

(i) Aggravated rape, as prohibited by § 39-13-502; or
(ii) Rape, as prohibited by § 39-13-503;
(B) The victim was an adult at the time of the offense;
(C) The victim notifies law enforcement or the office of the district attorney general of the offense within three (3) years of the offense; and
(D) The offense is committed:

(i) On or after July 1, 2014; or
(ii) Prior to July 1, 2014, unless prosecution for the offense is barred because the applicable time limitation set out in this section for prosecution of the offense expired prior to July 1, 2014.
(2) If subdivision (l)(1) does not apply to the specified offenses, prosecution shall be commenced within the times otherwise provided by this section.
(m) A person may be prosecuted, tried, and punished for any offense committed against a child on or after July 1, 2016, that constitutes the offense of aggravated statutory rape under § 39-13-506(c), no later than fifteen (15) years from the date the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age.
(n) Notwithstanding subsection (b), prosecutions for any offense committed on or after July 1, 2016, that constitutes the offense of aggravated child abuse, or aggravated child neglect or endangerment, under § 39-15-402, shall commence by the later of:

(1) Ten (10) years after the child reaches eighteen (18) years of age; or
(2) The time within which prosecution must be commenced pursuant to subsection (b).
(o) A person may be prosecuted, tried and punished for any offense committed against a child on or after July 1, 2019, that constitutes the offense of female genital mutilation, under § 39-13-110, no later than twenty-five (25) years from the date the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age.
(p) Notwithstanding subsection (b), a person may be prosecuted, tried, and punished for second degree murder, as prohibited by § 39-13-210, that is committed on or after July 1, 2019, at any time after the offense is committed.
(q)

(1) Notwithstanding subsections (b), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), or (m), prosecution for the following offenses, when committed against a minor under eighteen (18) years of age shall commence as provided by this subsection (q):

(A) Trafficking for a commercial sex act, as prohibited by § 39-13-309;
(B) Aggravated rape, as prohibited by § 39-13-502;
(C) Rape, as prohibited by § 39-13-503;
(D) Aggravated sexual battery, as prohibited by § 39-13-504;
(E) Sexual battery, as prohibited by § 39-13-505;
(F) Mitigated statutory rape, as prohibited by § 39-13-506;
(G) Statutory rape, as prohibited by § 39-13-506;
(H) Aggravated statutory rape, as prohibited by § 39-13-506(c);
(I) Indecent exposure, as prohibited by § 39-13-511, when the offense is classified as a felony offense;
(J) Patronizing prostitution, as prohibited by § 39-13-514;
(K) Promotion of prostitution, as prohibited by § 39-13-515;
(L) Continuous sexual abuse of a child, as prohibited by § 39-13-518;
(M) Rape of a child, as prohibited by § 39-13-522;
(N) Sexual battery by an authority figure, as prohibited by § 39-13-527;
(O) Solicitation of a minor, as prohibited by § 39-13-528, when the offense is classified as a felony offense;
(P) Soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor – exploitation of a minor by electronic means, as prohibited by § 39-13-529;
(Q) Aggravated rape of a child, as prohibited by § 39-13-531;
(R) Statutory rape by an authority figure, as prohibited by § 39-13-532;
(S) Unlawful photographing, as prohibited by § 39-13-605, when the offense is classified as a felony offense;
(T) Observation without consent, as prohibited by § 39-13-607, when the offense is classified as a felony offense;
(U) Incest, as prohibited by § 39-15-302;
(V) Sexual exploitation of a minor, as prohibited by § 39-17-1003;
(W) Aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, as prohibited by § 39-17-1004; or
(X) Especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, as prohibited by § 39-17-1005.
(2) A person may be prosecuted, tried, and punished for an offense listed in subdivision (q)(1) at any time after the commission of an offense if:

(A) The victim was under thirteen (13) years of age at the time of the offense; or
(B)

(i) The victim was at least thirteen (13) years of age but no more than seventeen (17) years of age at the time of the offense; and
(ii) The victim reported the offense to another person prior to the victim attaining twenty-three (23) years of age.
(3)

(A) Except as provided in subdivision (q)(3)(B), a person may be prosecuted, tried, and punished for an offense listed in subdivision (q)(1) at any time after the commission of an offense if:

(i) The victim was at least thirteen (13) years of age but no more than seventeen (17) years of age at the time of the offense; and
(ii) The victim did not meet the reporting requirements of subdivision (q)(2)(B)(ii).
(B) In order to commence prosecution for an offense listed in subdivision (q)(1) under the circumstances described in subdivision (q)(3)(A), at a date that is more than twenty-five (25) years from the date the victim becomes eighteen (18) years of age, the prosecution is required to offer admissible and credible evidence corroborating the allegations or similar acts by the defendant.
(4) This subsection (q) applies to offenses:

(A) Committed on or after July 1, 2019; or
(B) Committed prior to July 1, 2019, unless prosecution for the offense is barred because the applicable time limitation set out in this section for prosecution of the offense expired prior to July 1, 2019.
(r) Notwithstanding subsections (k) and (q), a person may be prosecuted, tried, and punished for any offense committed against a child on or after July 1, 2021, that constitutes the offense of trafficking for commercial sex act under § 39-13-309, at any time after the offense is committed.
(s) Notwithstanding subsection (b) and § 40-2-102, prosecution for an offense committed on or after July 1, 2023, that constitutes the offense of destruction and tampering with governmental records, pursuant to § 39-16-504, or official misconduct, pursuant to § 39-16-402, shall commence within six (6) years from the date the offense occurs.
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