Being charged with a crime committed when a minor

If you commit a crime when you are 15 and were never charged with it, can they track you down after you are an adult(18) and charge you as an adult? Also is the law retroactive to what is was when you initially committed the crime or do current statutes apply?

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Originally posted by cuddles
If you commit a crime when you are 15 and were never charged with it, can they track you down after you are an adult(18) and charge you as an adult? Also is the law retroactive to what is was when you initially committed the crime or do current statutes apply?

My response:

As long as the applicable Statute of Limitations for the particular crime has not expired, then yes, the authorities can charge you and try you no matter what your age; e.g., there is no limitations period for homicide, and the authorities can track you down forever. But, for example, if there is a four year statute of limitations on a crime you comitted, then you could be arrested anytime within your minority years through to a date after you've become a legal adult.

Only the statutes, then in existence for the crime, can be used against you.

IAAL