In murder cases, there is no statute of limitations.

• A. There is a 5-year limit
• B. There is a 1-year limit
• C. There is a limit for certain crimes only
• D. There is no statute of limitations for murder cases

Answer: (D)

Statutes of limitations set a deadline for bringing charges after a crime is known or reasonably should be known. For the most serious offenses, many jurisdictions remove that deadline entirely, which means charges can be filed at any time. Murder is treated this way because the harm is final and grave, evidence can surface years later, and society has a strong interest in ensuring accountability regardless of how much time has passed. That’s why the correct answer is that there is no statute of limitations for murder cases.

The other ideas describe limits that do exist for many crimes that aren’t as severe, or apply only in specific situations. Those time limits don’t fit murder, where the rule is to allow prosecution without a time cap.