Below is a summary of the statute of limitation periods for criminal cases in New Hampshire. Statutes of limitations set forth the time period within which the state must commence a case for a crime. If the state tries to bring an action against someone after the applicable time period has passed, the person charged can have the case dismissed. In general, violent crimes have a longer statute of limitations, and with some crimes there is no statute of limitations. In certain instances, the statute of limitations may be tolled, or suspended, which grants the state additional time to commence a legal action.
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. 625:8
Murder: no statute of limitations
Class A felony: 6 years
Class B felony: 6 years
Misdemeanor: 1 year
Violation: 3 months
Unemployment compensation offense: 6 years
Theft involving misappropriation of property or any offense involving fraud or breach of fiduciary duty: 1 year after discovery
Misconduct in office by a public servant: any time while person is still in office or within 2 years after leaving office
Hunting violations: 3 years
Sexual assault or incest with victim under 18 years: within 22 years after victim turns 18
Destruction of evidence, witness tampering, or other conduct that delayed discovery of offense: 1 year after discovery of offense
Arson: one year after discovery
Perjury or tampering with evidence in murder case: no statute of limitations
Tolling Provisions
The period of limitations does not run:
- when the accused is continuously absent from the state or has no reasonably ascertained place of abode or work within the state
- when a prosecution is pending against the accused in the state based on the same conduct
