NCJ Number
58875
Date Published
1976
Length
82 pages
Annotation
THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE U.S. COURTS REPORTS TO CONGRESS ON PROGRESS AS OF SEPTEMBER 1976 IN IMPLEMENTING THE SPEEDY TRIAL ACT OF 1974.
Abstract
TITLE I OF THE ACT REQUIRES EACH U.S. DISTRICT COURT TO ADOPT A PLAN FOR THE PROMPT DISPOSITION OF CRIMINAL CASES IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATUTORY TIME LIMITS. TITLE I PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO TIME LIMITS, THE PLANNING PROCESS, REPORTING, AND RECORDKEEPING ARE REVIEWED, AND THE COURTS' PROGRESS IN DEVELOPING AND ADOPTING SPEEDY TRIAL PLANS IS REPORTED. THE STATUS OF DISTRICT COURT CRIMINAL DOCKETS AS OF FISCAL 1975 AND 1976 IS ASSESSED. CHANGES IN PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE AS A RESULT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION EFFORT ARE NOTED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (JUDGESHIPS, MAGISTRATES, COURT REPORTERS, ETC.) TO COMPLETE THE EFFORT ARE PRESENTED. ALSO INCLUDED ARE NOTES ON IMPLEMENTATION PROBLEMS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES IN THE ACT'S PROVISIONS AND REQUIREMENTS. TITLE II OF THE ACT CALLS FOR THE FUNDING OF 10 PRETRIAL SERVICE AGENCIES ON A DEMONSTRATION BASIS. THE PURPOSE OF THESE AGENCIES IS TO REDUCE PRETRIAL DETENTION AND RECIDIVISM. THEIR FUNCTIONS ARE TO COMPILE AND VERIFY BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON ACCUSED PERSONS, AND TO SUPERVISE PERSONS RELEASED FROM CUSTODY PRIOR TO TRIAL OR CONVICTION. THE REPORT DESCRIBES THE ORGANIZATION, FUNDING, AND INITIAL OPERATIONS OF THE 10 DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS; PRESENTS STATISTICS ON THE SERVICES THEY HAVE PROVIDED IN THEIR FIRST MONTHS OF OPERATION; AND SUMMARIZES PLANS TO EVALUATE THE PROJECTS. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE A MODEL STATEMENT OF TIME LIMITS AND PROCEDURES UNDER THE SPEEDY TRIAL ACT, A SUMMARY OF ORIENTATION PROGRAMS FOR SPEEDY TRIAL PLANNING GROUPS, STATISTICS ON TIME LIMITS (ARREST TO INDICTMENT AND ARRAIGNMENT TO TRIAL) ADOPTED BY DISTRICT COURTS, PRELIMINARY DATA (BY DISTRICT) ON DISPOSITIONS UNDER THE ACT, AND OTHER SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTATION. (LKM)