Periods of prescription
From Criminal Defense Wiki
Periods of prescription are time limits that set forth the maximum period of time after an event that legal proceedings based on that event may be initiated. In civil law systems, Periods of prescription, also known as Prescriptive Periods, are set by the civil or criminal code. In common law systems, similar provisions are set by statute and known as Statutory Limitation.
For a complete discussion, please see Statutory Limitation.