Justice for Murder Victims Act
The Justice for Murder Victims Act would add a new provision to federal law clarifying that prosecutions for homicide offenses under United States law can be brought without any time limit between the act or omission that caused the victim’s death and the death itself. In practical terms, this means there would be no statute of limitations based on the elapsed time between the causing act and the death for federally defined homicide cases. The measure would amend 18 U.S.C. Chapter 51 by adding Sec. 1123, and it would apply to “any homicide offense under the laws of the United States.” Introduced in the House on February 13, 2025 by Mr. Tiffany (with Mrs. McBath) and referred to the Judiciary Committee, the bill’s intent is to ensure accountability for murder cases that unfold over long periods or where death occurs long after the initial act. It does not specify retroactive application beyond removing the time-bar in federal homicide prosecutions, and it does not change other statutes of limitations for non-homicide offenses.
Key Points
- 1Creates Sec. 1123 in 18 U.S.C. Chapter 51: “No maximum time period between act or omission and death of victim.”
- 2Prosecution standard: A federal homicide offense may be charged regardless of how much time has passed between the act/omission and the death.
- 3Scope: Applies to any homicide offense under the laws of the United States.
- 4Structural change: Adds a new section to the federal code and updates the Table of Contents to reflect Sec. 1123.
- 5Status and process: Introduced in the 119th Congress by Mr. Tiffany and Mrs. McBath; referred to the Judiciary Committee (no further action indicated in the text provided).