Under CPL §30.10, prosecutors must file charges within:
- 1 year for petty offenses
- 2 years for misdemeanors
- 5 years for most felonies
- No limit for Class A felonies, murder, or rape 1st degree
“Tolling” stops the clock—such as when crimes go undiscovered, or when a defendant resides outside New York (for up to 5 years).
This ensures fairness to both victims and defendants by preventing stale prosecutions.