What is the statute of limitations for felonies in Mississippi?

In the state of Mississippi, there is a two-year statute of limitations on most Mississippi Charges Felony Offenses; in other words, legal action can only be initiated for two years following the event. The exceptions to this are certain felony crimes that do not have a statute of limitations due to their serious nature.

The following is the list of felonies in Mississippi that do not have statute of limitations, meaning that legal action can be pursued at any time regardless of how long it has been since the crime took place:

• Murder
• Manslaughter
• Arson
• Burglary
• Counterfeiting
• Forgery
• Robbery
• Larceny
• Rape
• Embezzlement
• Obtaining money under false pretences of property

Finally, there are a few felonies which are in a category apart from the others in terms of statute of limitations. These are felonies that involve situations regarding the sexual abuse of minors. Specifically:

• Felonious abuse or battery of a child
• Sexual battery of a child
• Exploitation of a child
• Touching a child for lustful purposes

These specific felonies have a statute of limitations that is set to expire on or before the child’s 21st birthday. In other words, depending on the nature of the situation, the statute of limitations may expire sooner, but the latest possible date of legal action is the day the child turns 21 years of age.

If you are accused of a felony crime, you need to understand that there are serious consequences that you will likely have to face. Contacting a lawyer for assistance in dealing with the charges is the best way to attempt to mitigate the potential penalties you are facing and to ensure you get the best possible outcome you can in light of the situation.