Bill > SB828

This bill amends Oklahoma's statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions, making several significant changes. Most notably, for sexual crimes against children, the bill removes the previous time restriction that required prosecutions to be commenced by the victim's 45th birthday, instead allowing these cases to be pursued at any time. Similarly, for sexual crimes against victims 18 and older, the bill eliminates the 20-year limitation and now permits prosecutions to be initiated at any time. The bill maintains provisions allowing prosecution if physical evidence with DNA is preserved, a DNA profile can establish probable cause, or the accused provides a confession. The legislation also sets specific time limits for various other types of crimes, such as three years for wildlife conservation code violations, five years for tax law and false check violations, and seven years for crimes like bribery, embezzlement of public funds, and arson. Importantly, the bill includes safeguards against false claims, stating that prosecutions cannot be based solely on recovered memories without independent evidence, and individuals making knowingly false claims could face felony charges. The changes will take effect on November 1, 2025, potentially impacting how and when criminal cases can be pursued in Oklahoma.

Justice

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb828&Session=2600