Chapter — 1917 Code of Canon Law

Chapter VII: Of the Extinction of Actions

Superseded as law in 1983 — read why this Code still matters. Each canon links to its 1983 counterpart.

English · Latin · Both

Can. 1702.

Every criminal action is extinguished by the death of the accused, by condonation of legitimate power, and by lapse of the useful time for proposing the criminal action.

Cited by 5 passages

Can. 1703.

With the prescription of can. 1555, Sec. 1 concerning delicts reserved to the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office remaining firm, the useful time for proposing a criminal action is three years, unless there is question:

1° Of an action for injuries, which is extinguished in one year.

2° Of an action on account of delicts qualified against the sixth and seventh divine precept, which is extinguished in five years.

3° Of actions on account of simony or homicide, against which a criminal action endures for ten years.

1983 Code correlation: can. 1362

Cited by 10 passages

Can. 1704.

Once a criminal action has been removed by prescription:

1° A contentious action, perhaps arisen from the delict, for repairing damages is not by that very fact removed.

2° The Ordinary can still use the remedies established in can. 2222, Sec. 2.

Cited by 5 passages

Can. 1705.

§ 1. Prescription in contentious matters runs from the time when the action first could be proposed by law; in criminal matters, from the day the delict was perpetrated.

§ 2. If the delict has a successive course, as they call it, prescription does not run except from the day on which the course of the delict ceased.

§ 3. In a habitual or continued delict, prescription does not run except after the last act; and one convened on account of some criminal act not prescribed is bound concerning older acts which are connected with the same act, even if, taken individually, they would be excluded by prescription.

1983 Code correlation: can. 1363

Cited by 5 passages