Impact of the Speedy Trial Act on Investigation and Prosecution of Federal Criminal Cases

摘要

The Speedy Trial Act (Pub. L. 93-619), passed by Congress in 1974, establishes strict time limits for processing all federal criminal cases. One of the most important and innovative concepts of the Act is its recognition of the public's right to have defendants speedily tried. Accordingly, the limits are triggered independently of requests by the defendant. The Act provided for a four-year phase-in period during which the time limits for case disposition were progressively shortened. Throughout this interval, districts were to plan for implementation and to report on any problems in achieving compliance. At the end of this period, Congress modified the original Act through passage of the Speedy Trial Act Amendments Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-43). The amended Act established two basic time limits: arrested defendants must be indicted within 30 days of their arrest; and trials of all defendants must commence within 70 days of their indictment.