Final answer:
The limitation defense protects individuals from punishment for actions committed before a law existed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Limitation Defense
The limit of the law that protects a person from being punished for an action committed before such a law existed is known as the limitation defense. This defense is based on the principle that individuals cannot be held accountable for actions that were not considered illegal when they were committed.
Example:
If a new law is passed today criminalizing a particular act, individuals who committed that act before the law was enacted cannot be charged or punished for it.