(a) Except as otherwise provided in this article, a person charged with any offense is not liable to be tried by courts-martial or punished under Section 31-2A-15 (Article 15) if the offense was committed more than 12 months before the receipt of sworn charges and specifications by an officer exercising court-martial jurisdiction over the command or before the imposition of punishment under Section 31-2A-15 (Article 15).
(b) Periods in which the accused is absent without authority or fleeing from justice shall be excluded in computing the period of limitation prescribed in this article.
(c) Periods in which the accused was absent from territory in which the state has the authority to apprehend him or her, or in the custody of civil authorities, or in the hands of the enemy, shall be excluded in computing the period of limitation prescribed in this article.
(d) When the United States is at war, the running of any statute of limitations applicable to any offense under this code is suspended until two years after the termination of hostilities as proclaimed by the President or by a joint resolution of Congress if the offense:
(1) Involves fraud or attempted fraud against the United States, any state, or any agency of either in any manner, whether by conspiracy or not.
(2) Is committed in connection with the acquisition, care, handling, custody, control, or disposition of any real or personal property of the United States or any state.
(3) Is committed in connection with the negotiation, procurement, award, performance, payment, interim financing, cancellation, or other termination or settlement, of any contract, subcontract, or purchase order which is connected with or related to the prosecution of the war, or with any disposition of termination inventory by any war contractor or government agency.
(e)(1) If charges or specifications are dismissed as defective or insufficient for any cause and the period prescribed by the applicable statute of limitations has expired or will expire within 180 days after the date of dismissal of the charges and specifications, trial and punishment under new charges and specifications are not barred by the statute of limitations if the conditions specified in subdivision (2) are met.
(2) The conditions referred to in subdivision (1) are that the new charges and specifications shall:
a. Be received by an officer exercising summary court-martial jurisdiction over the command within 180 days after the dismissal of the charges or specifications.
b. Allege the same acts or omissions that were alleged in the dismissed charges or specifications, or allege acts or omissions that were included in the dismissed charges or specifications.
Last modified: May 3, 2021