republic-os/legal/us/code/title-18/chapter-213/section-3282.md

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LegalText	18 U.S.C. § 3282	Offenses not capital	us	united_states_code	code_section	18	CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE	213	LIMITATIONS	3282	18 U.S.C. § 3282	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc18@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t18/s3282	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-18/usc18.xml	dfdc5a2fb3d7778fc42d0a09d409be7990aa8171239f0b3516fcfbbeee8469d7	1a1bbbbdb59e376ada4eb7ad1056fd68d396679ee7ab59f0561af15006122708	5bad889a30966402821eeaec3ded9d454fc3a97c0439983d2642ef5b119ca1f2	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

18 U.S.C. § 3282 - Offenses not capital

Text

(a) In General.— Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, no person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished for any offense, not capital, unless the indictment is found or the information is instituted within five years next after such offense shall have been committed.

(b) DNA Profile Indictment.— (1) In general.— In any indictment for an offense under chapter 109A for which the identity of the accused is unknown, it shall be sufficient to describe the accused as an individual whose name is unknown, but who has a particular DNA profile.

(2) Exception.— Any indictment described under paragraph (1), which is found not later than 5 years after the offense under chapter 109A is committed, shall not be subject to—

(A) the limitations period described under subsection (a); and

(B) the provisions of chapter 208 until the individual is arrested or served with a summons in connection with the charges contained in the indictment.

(3) Defined term.— For purposes of this subsection, the term “DNA profile” means a set of DNA identification characteristics.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 828; Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1214, § 12(a), formerly § 10(a), 68 Stat. 1145; renumbered Pub. L. 87–299, § 1, Sept. 26, 1961, 75 Stat. 648; Pub. L. 108–21, title VI, § 610(a), Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 692.)

Notes

Historical and Revision NotesBased on section 746(g) of title 8, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Aliens and Nationality, and on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 582 (R.S. § 1044; Apr. 13, 1876, ch. 56, 19 Stat. 32; Nov. 17, 1921, ch. 124, § 1, 42 Stat. 220; Dec. 27, 1927, ch. 6, 45 Stat. 51; Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 876, title I, subchap. III, § 346(g), 54 Stat. 1167). Section 582 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., and section 746(g) of title 8, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Aliens and Nationality, were consolidated. “Except as otherwise expressly provided by law” was inserted to avoid enumeration of exceptive provisions. The proviso contained in the act of 1927 “That nothing herein contained shall apply to any offense for which an indictment has been heretofore found or an information instituted, or to any proceedings under any such indictment or information,” was omitted as no longer necessary. In the consolidation of these sections the 5-year period of limitation for violations of the Nationality Code, provided for in said section 746(g) of title 8, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Aliens and Nationality, is reduced to 3 years. There seemed no sound basis for considering 3 years adequate in the case of heinous felonies and gross frauds against the United States but inadequate for misuse of a passport or false statement to a naturalization examiner.

Editorial Notes

Amendments2003—Pub. L. 108–21 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b). 1954—Act Sept. 1, 1954, changed the limitation period from three years to five years.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1954 AmendmentAct Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1214, § 12(b), formerly section 10(b), 68 Stat. 1145, as renumbered by Pub. L. 87–299, § 1, Sept. 26, 1961, 75 Stat. 648, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall be effective with respect to offenses (1) committed on or after September 1, 1954, or (2) committed prior to such date, if on such date prosecution therefor is not barred by provisions of law in effect prior to such date.”

Fugitives From JusticeStatutes of limitations as not extending to persons fleeing from justice, see section 3290 of this title.

Offenses Against Internal SecurityLimitation period in connection with offenses against internal security, see section 783 of Title 50, War and National Defense.

Sections 792, 793, and 794 of This Title; Limitation PeriodLimitation period in connection with sections 792, 793, and 794 of this title, see note set out under section 792.