NEW JERSEY : Rape/Molestation Statutes of Limitation
An actor is guilty of aggravated sexual assault if he commits an act of sexual penetration with another person under any one of the following circumstances:
1. The victim is less than 13 years old;
2. The victim is at least 13 but less than 16 years old; and
a. The actor is related to the victim by blood or affinity to the third degree, or
b. The actor has supervisory or disciplinary power over the victim by virtue of the actor's legal, professional, or occupational status, or
c. The actor is a resource family parent, a guardian, or stands in loco parentis within the household;
3. The act is committed during the commission, or attempted commission, whether alone or with one or more other persons, of robbery, kidnapping, homicide, aggravated assault on another, burglary, arson or criminal escape;
4. The actor is armed with a weapon or any object fashioned in such a manner as to lead the victim to reasonably believe it to be a weapon and threatens by word or gesture to use the weapon or object;
5. The actor is aided or abetted by one or more other persons and the actor uses physical force or coercion;
6. The actor uses physical force or coercion and severe personal injury is sustained by the victim;
7. The victim is one whom the actor knew or should have known was physically helpless, mentally defective or mentally incapacitated.
An actor is guilty of sexual assault if he commits an act of sexual contact with a victim who is less than 13 years old and the actor is at least four years older than the victim, or if he commits an act of sexual penetration with another person under any one of the following circumstances:
1. The actor uses physical force or coercion, but the victim does not sustain severe personal injury;
2. The victim is on probation or parole, or is detained in a hospital, prison or other institution and the actor has supervisory or disciplinary power over the victim by virtue of the actor's legal, professional or occupational status;
3. The victim is at least 16 but less than 18 years old and:
a. The actor is related to the victim by blood or affinity to the third degree; or
b. The actor has supervisory or disciplinary power of any nature or in any capacity over the victim; or
c. The actor is a resource family parent, a guardian, or stands in loco parentis within the household;
4. The victim is at least 13 but less than 16 years old and the actor is at least four years older than the victim. (i.e., the victim is 14, so the offender must be at least 18).
There is no statute of limitations in New Jersey for aggravated sexual assault or sexual assault.
Bob sexually assaults Jane. She is afraid to tell anyone but eventually decides to press charges against Bob for his crime. There is no time limit by which Bob must be prosecuted; Jane can report the crime and press charges at any time.
If ONLY contact (fondling, touching, rubbing, etc) occured, but no penetration, under the same circumstances listed above, it is considered aggravated criminal sexual contact or criminal sexual contact (this mostly applies only to adults). The statute of limitations for these crimes is 5 years after the commission of the offense.
Bob makes criminal sexual contact with Jane, who is 18 years old. From the date the incident happened, Bob must be prosecuted within 5 years if he is to be punished for his actions.
.