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

Overview

In Kansas, the statute of limitations (SOL) sets a deadline for the State to file criminal charges. For a Class B felony (often described in other jurisdictions as a “2nd degree felony”), Kansas uses a structured limitations framework found in K.S.A. § 21-6701.

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator helps you compute the general time window using the date the offense is treated as “committed.” This post focuses on the general/default rule for Kansas—because, based on the governing statute language reviewed for this topic, no claim-type-specific sub-rule was found that changes the baseline limitations period for the offense category described here.

Limitation period

Kansas establishes a general SOL period of 0.5 years for the relevant baseline category referenced by the statute’s general rule in K.S.A. § 21-6701. Practically, that means:

• General rule: 6 months (0.5 years)
• Starting point (general concept): the clock runs from the date the offense is considered “committed” under Kansas law and the statute’s application rules.

Because you asked specifically about Class B / “2nd degree” felony, the key takeaway for a Kansas SOL worksheet is:

• Use the general/default SOL period unless the case involves a recognized exception or tolling circumstance that legally extends the deadline.
• If you’re comparing “2nd degree” wording from other states, Kansas charging classes don’t always map cleanly to other terminology. DocketMath’s calculator is designed to work from Kansas’s statute framework—so align the offense classification to how Kansas charges it (e.g., Class B).

Quick calculation example (general rule)

Assume:

• Offense deemed committed: January 1, 2026

Using the general SOL:

• 0.5 years ≈ 6 months
• SOL deadline (general calculation) ≈ July 1, 2026

Actual deadlines can differ based on how dates are handled (for example, whether the SOL runs to a specific calendar date, time-of-day issues, and any tolling). DocketMath’s calculator is built to standardize those inputs so you can see the likely deadline from the general rule.

Check your inputs before calculating

Use these checklist items to get a more reliable SOL deadline output:

Key exceptions

Kansas’s general SOL rule can be affected by exceptions and tolling provisions. While this page focuses on the general/default period (0.5 years under K.S.A. § 21-6701), the statute’s overall framework may include circumstances that change when the SOL begins, pauses, or resets.

Because your request specifically notes that no claim-type-specific sub-rule was found for the category used here, the exceptions discussion should be treated as a “what to look for” guide rather than a complete list of every possible scenario.

Common categories of issues that can change an SOL timeline in many criminal limitations frameworks (and that you should look for in Kansas filings) include:

• Tolling for the defendant being absent or otherwise not subject to prosecution
• Delays caused by pending proceedings (e.g., certain procedural events)
• Offenses where “discovery” concepts apply (if and when the statute provides for that)
• Specific offense frameworks that override the general SOL (if K.S.A. § 21-6701 or related provisions carve them out)

How exceptions affect the calculator output

DocketMath is built to calculate the baseline SOL under the statute’s general rule. If your case involves tolling or an exception, the deadline computed from the general period may:

• Move forward (if time is tolled/paused or the clock restarts)
• Change the starting date (if the offense is legally “committed” on a different date than the one you initially selected)
• Require multiple date segments (if time is tolled during a specific period)

If you want accurate results, gather these details before recalculating:

Statute citation

Kansas’s general statute of limitations framework for criminal offenses is codified at:

• K.S.A. § 21-6701
  Source: https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/s/statute/021_000_0000_chapter/021_067_0000_article/021_067_0001_section/021_067_0001_k.pdf?utm_source=openai

For the topic covered on this page:

• General SOL period: 0.5 years (baseline)
• Default applicability: This is the general/default rule; no claim-type-specific sub-rule was found that changes the baseline period for the category addressed here.

Use the calculator

To compute the Kansas SOL deadline using DocketMath, use the Statute of Limitations Calculator:

• Primary CTA: /tools/statute-of-limitations

What to enter

In DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool, the goal is to translate your key dates into a computed deadline based on the general rule:

• Offense committed date: Use the date the offense is treated as “committed” for SOL purposes (not the date you learned about it, the date of arrest, or the filing date of a report).
• Jurisdiction: Select Kansas (US-KS) so the calculator uses the Kansas general SOL framework.
• Offense class/category: Choose the appropriate Kansas category corresponding to Class B.

How outputs change with inputs

• If you change only the committed date, the deadline moves by roughly 6 months because the baseline period is 0.5 years.
• If you use a different committed date (for example, one alleged as an earlier or later occurrence), the SOL deadline updates accordingly—sometimes by months, sometimes by the difference between specific dates (e.g., January 31 vs. February 1).
• If your case involves tolling or an exception, the general output may not match the final legal deadline. Treat DocketMath’s result as a baseline starting point until you incorporate exception/tolling date logic (if applicable).

A practical approach:

1. Run the calculator using the committed date shown in charging documents.
2. Compare the resulting baseline deadline to the filing date.
3. If timing looks too tight under the baseline SOL, look for language in the case materials about tolling, procedural delays, or exceptional circumstances—and rerun calculations using any updated effective timing dates.

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