Chapter VI Prescription and Extinction of Punishment
第六章 刑の時効及び刑の消滅
Article 31Prescription of Sentence
第三十一条（刑の時効）
Prescription is to have the effect of remitting the sentence (excluding the death penalty) of a person who has been sentenced to punishment.
刑（死刑を除く。）の言渡しを受けた者は、時効によりその執行の免除を得る。
Article 32Period of Prescription
第三十二条（時効の期間）
Prescription takes effect when a punishment has not been executed within any of the following terms after a sentence has become final and binding:
時効は、刑の言渡しが確定した後、次の期間その執行を受けないことによって完成する。
thirty years for imprisonment for life;
無期拘禁刑については三十年
twenty years for imprisonment for a definite term of 10 years or more;
十年以上の有期拘禁刑については二十年
ten years for imprisonment for a definite term of 3 years or more but less than 10 years;
三年以上十年未満の拘禁刑については十年
five years for imprisonment for a definite term of less than 3 years;
三年未満の拘禁刑については五年
three years for a fine;
罰金については三年
one year for a penal detention, a petty fine and confiscation.
拘留、科料及び没収については一年
Article 33Suspension of Prescription
第三十三条（時効の停止）
Prescription is not to run while execution of the sentence is suspended or stayed in accordance with laws and regulations.
時効は、法令により執行を猶予し、又は停止した期間内は、進行しない。
If a person who has been sentenced is outside Japan, prescription of imprisonment, a fine, penal detention and a petty fine does not run during the period in which the person is outside Japan.
拘禁刑、罰金、拘留及び科料の時効は、刑の言渡しを受けた者が国外にいる場合には、その国外にいる期間は、進行しない。
Article 34Renewal of Prescription
第三十四条（時効の中断）
The period of prescription of imprisonment or penal detention is interrupted when the sentenced person is in custody for the purpose of execution of the punishment.
拘禁刑及び拘留の時効は、刑の言渡しを受けた者をその執行のために拘束することによって中断する。
The period of prescription of a fine, petty fine or confiscation is interrupted when an act of execution takes place.
罰金、科料及び没収の時効は、執行行為をすることによって中断する。
Article 34-2Extinction of Punishment
第三十四条の二（刑の消滅）
When ten years have passed since a person completed the imprisonment or a greater punishment or the person had such punishment remitted without another sentence of a fine or a greater punishment being imposed, the sentence ceases to have effect. The same applies when five years have passed since a person completed a fine or a lesser punishment or had the execution of such punishment remitted without another sentence to a fine or a greater punishment being imposed.
拘禁刑以上の刑の執行を終わり又はその執行の免除を得た者が罰金以上の刑に処せられないで十年を経過したときは、刑の言渡しは、効力を失う。罰金以下の刑の執行を終わり又はその執行の免除を得た者が罰金以上の刑に処せられないで五年を経過したときも、同様とする。
In the case of a person who was sentenced to a remitted punishment without being further sentenced to a fine or a greater punishment during a period of two years since such sentence became final and binding, the sentence ceases to have effect.
刑の免除の言渡しを受けた者が、その言渡しが確定した後、罰金以上の刑に処せられないで二年を経過したときは、刑の免除の言渡しは、効力を失う。