Statute of limitations for sexual assault in Michigan

Rule or statute summary

Michigan’s statute of limitations (often “SOL”) for prosecuting sexual assault is based on Michigan’s general criminal limitations rule in the Michigan Penal Code.

Based on the jurisdiction data you provided, Michigan’s general/default SOL period is 6 years, governed by MCL § 767.24(1). The jurisdiction data also indicates that no sexual-assault claim-type-specific sub-rule was found—so the calculation and timing guidance below reflect the default 6-year period, not a specialized carve-out.

How to use this in practice: DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator is built to help you turn the statute’s time period into a concrete “last possible filing” date using two key inputs:

• the date of the alleged offense (i.e., when the conduct at issue occurred, or the offense date alleged in the charging record), and
• the as-of date (i.e., the date you want to check whether SOL has run—often today, or a key case milestone).

DocketMath then applies the 6-year default limitations period from MCL § 767.24(1) to estimate whether a filing would be timely under the base SOL rule.

Important (not legal advice): This snapshot focuses on the base limitations period only. Real cases can be affected by other doctrines—like tolling, procedural timing issues, or how Michigan counts certain periods—so treat the calculation as a starting point, not a final legal conclusion.

Citations

• MCL § 767.24(1) — provides a general 6-year limitations period for certain criminal prosecutions in Michigan.
• Source reference noted in your brief: Michigan.gov (as the jurisdiction source for the statute information): https://www.michigan.gov

Because the supplied brief did not identify a sexual-assault-specific sub-rule, this content treats MCL § 767.24(1) as the general/default SOL for purposes of the calculation.

Use the calculator

Use DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool to convert the Michigan 6-year default period into dates quickly.

• Primary CTA: Open the statute of limitations calculator
• Tool name: DocketMath

Run the Statute Of Limitations calculation in DocketMath, then save the output so it can be audited later: Open the calculator.

Inputs you’ll use

In the calculator workflow, use:

• Offense date — the date the alleged sexual assault occurred (or the offense date used in the case record)
• As-of date — the date you want the SOL status checked (for example, today or another specific date)

How the output changes (what to expect)

DocketMath applies the 6-year default SOL from MCL § 767.24(1):

• If the as-of date is before the calculator’s estimated latest filing date, the result will indicate the case is still within the limitations window under the base rule.
• If the as-of date is after the estimated latest filing date, the result will indicate the base SOL period has expired.

Changing either input will shift the timeline:

• Later offense dates generally push the latest filing date later.
• Later as-of dates generally make SOL look more likely expired.

Practical example (base rule timing)

Using the 6-year default period:

• Offense date: January 10, 2018
• SOL period: 6 years (per MCL § 767.24(1))
• Latest filing date (base calculation): January 10, 2024

If your as-of date is:

• June 1, 2023 → within the base 6-year window
• June 1, 2024 → outside the base 6-year window

Quick checklist before relying on the output

Pitfall to avoid: SOL is not always “just” a straight subtraction of dates. Use DocketMath for the base calculation, then check the case record for any additional doctrines that might alter timing.

For workflow context and comparisons across timelines, you can also consult DocketMath’s materials accessible via Browse the blog.

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — How to choose the right calculator
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — Full how-to guide with jurisdiction-specific rules
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — How to choose the right calculator