Statute of Limitations for Class D / 4th Degree Felony in Arkansas

Overview

In Arkansas, the statute of limitations (SOL) sets a deadline for the State to file a criminal case. For a Class D felony / “4th degree felony,” Arkansas uses a general limitations rule rather than a separate, claim-type-specific deadline for that label.

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool can help you compute key dates using the general SOL period provided by Arkansas law. This page focuses on the default rule for Class D / 4th degree felony cases in Arkansas, using:

• General SOL period: 6 years
• General statute: **Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(2)

Limitation period

Default SOL for Class D / 4th degree felony in Arkansas

For most non-capital felony prosecutions governed by the general limitations framework, Arkansas sets a six-year deadline.

• SOL length: 6 years
• Applies to: Felonies falling under the general rule of Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-109(b)(2)

How SOL deadlines typically get counted

SOL calculations usually depend on two moving parts:

1. The offense date (often when the conduct occurred, or when the offense “happens” under the applicable definition), and
2. The event that starts the clock (commonly tied to the time the prosecution is initiated or filed, depending on the legal framework and case posture).

Because SOL computations can be sensitive to case facts (for example, multiple incidents, continuing conduct, or when a charging document is filed), DocketMath’s calculator is designed to show how results change when you adjust inputs—so you can model different scenarios rather than rely on a single fixed date.

Practical timeline example (illustrative)

If the relevant offense date is January 15, 2020, then under a 6-year SOL:

• The default “latest possible” filing timeframe would generally fall around January 15, 2026 (subject to how Arkansas counts time and how the prosecution initiation date is treated in your context).

DocketMath helps you work backward and forward from the dates you have.

Key exceptions

Arkansas SOL rules include circumstances where the general limitations period may be altered, extended, or otherwise affected. Since the underlying facts matter, treat the items below as the categories to check—not as an automatic conclusion.

1) Tolling (pauses or delays in the SOL clock)

Many SOL frameworks allow for tolling—meaning the limitations time may be paused during certain legal events. In practice, tolling can depend on things like:

• Whether the defendant is absent or unavailable for prosecution,
• Whether certain procedural steps occur that pause the running of time,
• Whether legal proceedings are active in a way that affects the clock.

Even when the SOL “starts” with the offense date, tolling can change the effective deadline. DocketMath can be used to model revised deadlines if you have dates that reflect a tolling period.

2) Continuously occurring conduct

Where the charge involves conduct that continues over time, the operative date for limitations can shift depending on what portion of the conduct is charged.

For timeline work, this matters because a later “end date” can push the clock forward compared with a single incident date.

3) Procedural and charging details

The SOL question often turns on how and when the case is brought (for example, when a charging instrument is filed and how it relates to the conduct alleged). Small differences in charging dates may change whether a prosecution falls within the limitations period.

4) Constitutional or statutory overlays in specific contexts

Sometimes, statutory SOL rules are discussed alongside other doctrines that can affect timing. Those doctrines are fact-dependent and may involve additional statutory language beyond the general rule cited on this page.

Statute citation

Arkansas’s general statute of limitations for the relevant felony category is:

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

This page uses that general default rule because no claim-type-specific sub-rule for “Class D / 4th degree felony” was identified in the jurisdiction data applied here. As a result, the content reflects the baseline deadline framework, not a specialized “Class D only” timeline.

Use the calculator

You can compute and visualize SOL deadlines with DocketMath using the primary tool here:

• **/tools/statute-of-limitations

What to enter

To get useful outputs, focus on these inputs (names may vary slightly in the interface):

• Offense/incident date: The date tied to the alleged criminal conduct.
• SOL length: For this page’s default rule, set this to 6 years.
• Any timeline adjustments (if the tool supports them): Dates that represent tolling or other relevant timing shifts.

What you’ll get back (output behavior)

As you change inputs, DocketMath will typically update:

• The baseline expiration date for the SOL period, and
• One or more scenario expiration dates if you model additional timing adjustments.

A common workflow looks like this:

• Start with the offense date you know.
• Apply the 6-year rule.
• If you have evidence of tolling (for example, specific procedural dates), rerun the calculation with those dates to see how the deadline moves.

Quick checklist before you run numbers

Gentle reminder: SOL computation is sensitive to factual details and how Arkansas treats the triggering/charging date. Use DocketMath to model timelines and compare scenarios—not to substitute for review of the case record.

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