Why Do We Have Statutes of Limitations?

Ted Conrad has been missing for 50 years, but he can still be tried in court. Renner: The statute of limitations was not created to benefit the thief; it's a safeguard to keep innocent people out of prison. He says there are three reasons why we have statutes of limitations on criminal and civil cases.Renner: It means maybe the criminal who wronged you 10 years ago made himself into a better person since then.