What is the point of a statute of limitations on crime?

[RusskiSoldat]

I'm not sure if this is political, but I found no better place for it.
Still, I can't think of a reason why the government would reward people who've successfully evaded arrest for a period of time by not pressing charges.

[Cluny the Scourge]

The government could instruct their prosecutorial service to refrain from action and thus keep the accused under their thumb for fear of prosecution for the rest of his life.

[RusskiSoldat]

If they committed a crime, that's not so bad.
Either way, it seems to me that making it mandatory to press charges within x days of evidence suggesting guilt being uncovered seems like a better thing to do than to prevent the government from solving cold cases.

[Chaigidel]

there is no statute of limitations on tax evasion or murder


the statute of limitations usually applies in lawsuit type cases ( you cant sue for something 10 years ago today) -- but it also exists in criminal court-

but if they press charges before the statute runs out then the charge will stay even if the time on the statute runs out.

but the cannot put limitations on murder or tax evasion ( limitations on when they can charge you for it)

[Rhinosaur]

It frees up cops from having stacks of unsolved petty theft cases from 25 years ago to deal with, for starters. In addition, if it takes the Government more than a few years to bring a case against someone for some relatively minor offense, they should not even bother with it. It's a matter of practicality, as well as it being cool for someone to occasionally evade the system and beat "The Man" at his own game.