Statute of Limitations for Class B / 2nd Degree Felony in Arkansas

Overview

In Arkansas, the statute of limitations (SOL) sets a deadline for the State to file a criminal case after an alleged offense occurs. For a Class B / 2nd degree felony, Arkansas generally uses a default SOL framework found in the criminal code.

Based on the jurisdiction data provided for this topic, there is no separate, claim-type-specific SOL sub-rule identified for Class B / 2nd degree felonies. That means the general/default limitation period applies.

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator is designed to help you apply the rule by plugging in key dates (like the offense date and the filing date) and then seeing whether the SOL window has likely run. This post explains the relevant rule and the most common ways deadlines can be affected—without offering legal advice.

Limitation period

Default (general) SOL for a Class B / 2nd degree felony in Arkansas

The jurisdiction data provided indicates:

• General SOL period: 6 years
• General statute: **Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(2)
• Claim-type-specific sub-rule: Not found for Class B / 2nd degree felonies under this dataset

So if you are dealing with a Class B / 2nd degree felony charged in Arkansas, you start from the assumption that the State must commence the prosecution within 6 years of the relevant triggering date defined by Arkansas law.

What “6 years” practically means for timelines

When you run an SOL analysis in a calculator, you typically compare:

• Offense date (or the date the offense is deemed to have occurred under the law), and
• Commencement date of prosecution (often the date charges are filed, or another “commencement” concept depending on the procedural posture).

In a typical scenario:

• If the prosecution begins within 6 years, it’s generally inside the default SOL window.
• If it begins after 6 years, it’s generally outside the default SOL window—unless an exception or tolling event applies.

Inputs that affect the output in DocketMath

Use DocketMath to structure the question as: “Has the 6-year SOL period elapsed between the relevant dates?”

Common inputs you’ll want to align carefully:

• Offense date (YYYY-MM-DD): anchor date for the SOL clock.
• Prosecution commenced date (YYYY-MM-DD): anchor date for when the clock is “stopped” for SOL purposes (based on how the calculator defines commencement).
• Jurisdiction (US-AR): ensures the calculator applies Arkansas’s SOL framework.
• Charge type selection: for this topic, the calculator will use the general/default 6-year SOL because no Class B-specific sub-rule was identified.

As you change these dates:

• Moving the prosecution date later may push the result from “within SOL” to “outside SOL.”
• Changing the offense date earlier can similarly accelerate the SOL expiration.

Key exceptions

Even when the default SOL is clear, exceptions or tolling rules can affect whether the clock runs continuously. While this post uses only the general/default period provided for Class B / 2nd degree felonies, you should still be aware of the kinds of events that commonly matter in criminal SOL disputes in Arkansas practice.

Here are the main categories to check when you’re evaluating SOL timelines:

• Tolling events: Certain legal events can pause or extend the limitations period, meaning time that might otherwise count toward the 6-year window may not count the same way.
• Timing and procedural posture: If the case was dismissed or amended, the SOL analysis may need to reflect how Arkansas defines “commencement” and how refiling affects the timing.
• Different triggering dates: Some fact patterns can affect what counts as the “date of offense” for SOL purposes (for example, continuing offenses). If your facts involve multiple dates, the SOL clock might not be a single clean point.
• Special statutory schemes: Some offenses have different SOL rules than the default. For this topic, the dataset indicates no additional claim-type-specific sub-rule was found for Class B / 2nd degree felonies—so the starting point remains the 6-year general SOL.

How to sanity-check the result

After running DocketMath:

• Compare the calculator’s “SOL expiration date” to the prosecution commencement date shown on the docket.
• If the result is near the boundary (for example, within days of the 6-year mark), re-check the input dates.
• If an exception is potentially relevant (tolling, dismissal/refiling mechanics, or a continuing conduct theory), consider re-running the calculation with the dates adjusted to reflect those events—then confirm with the case record.

Statute citation

The general/default statute of limitations period referenced in this topic is:

• Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(2) — 6 years (general SOL period)

Because no claim-type-specific sub-rule was found for Class B / 2nd degree felonies in the provided jurisdiction data, Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(2) is the baseline rule applied for this class of felony charges.

Use the calculator

You can use DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator here: /tools/statute-of-limitations.

How to run the Arkansas (US-AR) calculation

Follow this workflow:

1. Open the DocketMath tool: **/tools/statute-of-limitations
2. Select or confirm:

   • Jurisdiction: US-AR
3. Enter:

   • Offense date (the date the offense is treated as occurring for SOL purposes)
   • Prosecution commenced date (the date charges were commenced under the calculator’s SOL definition)
4. Run the calculation.

Understanding the output

Typically, DocketMath will produce results such as:

• Computed SOL expiration date based on the 6-year default period, and
• A status like:

  • Within SOL if the commencement date falls before the computed expiration date, or
  • Outside SOL if it falls after.

Input changes and what they do to results

Use the calculator iteratively when you’re working with uncertain dates:

• If you enter an offense date that is earlier, the SOL expiration date moves earlier, making an “outside SOL” result more likely.
• If you enter a prosecution commencement date that is later, the SOL expiration date stays the same but the comparison changes, also increasing the likelihood of “outside SOL.”
• If you re-run with different offense dates (for example, multiple alleged conduct dates), you can see which date triggers the earliest SOL expiration baseline.

Sources and references

Start with the primary authority for Arkansas and confirm the effective date before relying on any output. If the rule has been amended, update the inputs and rerun the calculation.

• Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — Tool comparison
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — How-to guide
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — Tool comparison