SPEEDY TRIAL ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1979 - HEARINGS BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY, 96TH CONGRESS, 1ST SESSION, ON S 961 AND S 1028, MAY 2 AND 10, 1979

• NCJ Number: 64636
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 742 pages
• Corporate Author: US Congress
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO
• Publication Type: Legislative/Regulatory Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

HEARINGS WERE HELD IN MAY 1979 BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY TO RECEIVE TESTIMONY ON TWO BILLS (S.961 AND S.1028) TO AMEND THE SPEEDY TRIAL ACT OF 1974.

Abstract

THE SPEEDY TRIAL ACT IS AN EFFORT BY CONGRESS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF DELAYS IN THE HANDLING OF FEDERAL CRIMINAL CASES. IT REQUIRES THAT DISTRICT COURTS BRING CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS TO TRIAL WITHIN 100 DAYS OF ARREST. THE 100-DAY PERIOD IS DIVIDED INTO THREE INTERVALS: ARREST TO INDICTMENT (90 DAYS); INDICTMENT TO ARRAIGNMENT (10 DAYS); AND ARRAIGNMENT TO START OF TRIAL (60 DAYS). TIME EXTENSIONS ARE PERMITTED IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS, AND SANCTIONS ARE PRESCRIBED IF ANY TIME LIMIT IS NOT MET. THE AMENDMENTS ARE INTENDED TO SAFEGUARD SPEEDY TRIAL RIGHTS OF CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS BY EXPANDING THE ACT'S FINAL TIME LIMITS TO REQUIRE THAT A DEFENDANT BE CHARGED WITHIN 60 DAYS OF ARREST AND THAT TRIAL BEGIN WITHIN 120 DAYS AFTER THE CHARGE HAS BEEN FILED. THE LATTER INTERVAL INCLUDES THE 10-DAY PERIOD FROM FILING OF THE CHARGE TO ARRAIGNMENT THAT HAS BEEN TREATED SEPARATELY IN THE ACT. TESTIMONY FROM GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, INTEREST GROUPS, UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS, AND CITIZENS IS INCLUDED. AN APPENDIX CONTAINS ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE FROM WITNESSES, U.S. CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT COURTS, NATIONAL AND STATE-LEVEL ORGANIZATIONS, AND CITIZENS; NOTES RELEVANT NEWSPAPER AND NEWSLETTER ARTICLES, REPORTS, AND STUDIES; AND REVIEWS THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE SPEEDY TRIAL ACT. (DEP)