Delays in the Processing of Criminal Cases Under the Speedy Trial Act of 1974 (From Proposed Amendments to the Speedy Trial Act of 1974 Hearings, P 455-643, 1980 - See NCJ-77504)

• NCJ Number: 77506
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 189 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Justice
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: This document is available on microfiche under NCJ-77504.

Annotation

This study of the current level of compliance with requirements of the Speedy Trial Act was conducted to project the likelihood that compliance will occur by July 1, 1979, after which time failure to meet the standards of the act will result in dismissal of a criminal case.

Abstract

It is based on a review of information developed by the Department of Justice and by the Administrative Office of the Court. Following a review of the requirements of the Speedy Trial Act, this report discusses the current levels of compliance with the act's final time limits, summarizes the apparent causes of noncompliance, attempts to identify the more significant apparent 'costs' of compliance as they relate to the due administration of justice, and assess the major proposals for modification of the act. Findings indicate that the degree of compliance with the act was relatively high for the year ending June 30, 1978, that overall compliance with the act's ultimate time limits was equally high, that the most significant source of delay was time spent considering plea offers, and that the most significant cost of compliance with the act is continued and aggravated delay in the disposition of civil cases. Footnotes are included. (Author summary modified)