Canon 1362. §1 A criminal action is extinguished by prescription after three years, except for:

1° offences reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which are subject to special norms;

2° without prejudice to n. 1, an action arising from any of the offences mentioned in cann.
1376, 1377, 1378, 1393 §1, 1394, 1395, 1397, or 1398 §2, which is extinguished after seven years, or one arising from the offences mentioned in can. 1398 §1, which is extinguished after twenty years;

3° offences not punished by the universal law, where a particular law has prescribed a different period of prescription.

§2 Prescription, unless provided otherwise in a law, runs from the day the offence was committed or, if the offence was enduring or habitual, from the day it ceased.

§3 When the offender has been summoned in accordance with can. 1723, or informed in the manner provided in can. 1507 §3 of the presentation of the petition of accusation according to can. 1721 §1, prescription of the criminal action is suspended for three years; once this period has expired or the suspension has been interrupted through the cessation
of the penal process, time runs once again and is added to the period of prescription which has already elapsed. The same suspension equally applies if, observing can. 1720 n. 1, the procedure is followed for imposing or declaring a penalty by way of an extra- judicial decree.

§1. Actio criminalis praescriptione extinguitur triennio, nisi agatur:

1° de delictis Congregationi pro Doctrina Fidei reservatis, quae normis specialibus subiciuntur;

2° firmo praescripto n. 1, de actione ob delicta de quibus in can. 1376, 1377, 1378, 1393,§1, 1394, 1395, 1397, 1398,§2, quae septennio praescribitur, vel de ea ob delicta de quibus in can. 1398,§1, quae viginti annorum spatio praescribitur;

3° de delictis quae non sunt iure communi punita, si lex particularis alium praescriptionis terminum statuerit.

§2. Praescriptio, nisi aliud in lege statuatur, decurrit ex die quo delictum patratum est, vel, si delictum sit permanens vel habituale, ex die quo cessavit.

§3. Reo ad normam can. 1723 citato vel modo praeviso in can. 1507,§3, certiore facto de exhibitione accusationis libelli iuxta can. 1721,§1, praescriptio actionis criminalis suspenditur per tres annos, quo termino elapso vel interrupta suspensione, cessationis processus poenalis causa, rursus currit tempus, quod adiungitur ad illud iam decursum pro praescriptione. Eadem suspensio pariter viget si, servato can. 1720, n. 1, ad poenam irrogandam vel declarandam per decretum extra iudicium procedatur.