(a) There is no limitation of time within which a prosecution must be commenced for any of the following offenses:

criminal case

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Terms Used In Alabama Code 15-3-5

  • Capital offense: A crime punishable by death.
  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. Source: OCC
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • 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 Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
(1) Any capital offense.
(2) Any felony involving the use, attempted use, or threat of, violence to a person.
(3) Any felony involving serious physical injury or death of a person.
(4) Any sex offense pursuant to Section 15-20A-5 involving a victim under 16 years of age, regardless of whether it involves force, serious physical injury, or death.
(5) Any felony involving arson of any type.
(6) Any felony involving forgery of any type.
(7) Any felony involving counterfeiting.
(8) Any felony involving drug trafficking.
(b) The amendments made by this act shall apply to both of the following:

(1) To all crimes committed after January 7, 1985.
(2) To all crimes committed before January 7, 1985, for which no statute of limitations provided under pre-existing law has run as of January 7, 1985.
(c) Nothing herein shall be construed to mean that the adoption of this act indicates that any former statute of limitations applying to capital offenses is invalid as the result of any decision of any court invalidating the capital punishment statutes of the State of Alabama.
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