Congress Should Clarify the Speedy Trial Act to Resolve Differing Interpretations

摘要

Compliance with the Speedy Trial Act has increased steadily over the past 4 years. Ninety six percent of the criminal cases handled by all Federal district courts during the last 6 months of 1979 were processed within the act's 100-day time limit. Problems still exist, however, in interpreting and applying some sections of the act. As a result of some of these differing interpretations, future criminal cases might be inappropriately dismissed. GAO recommends that the Congress amend the Speedy Trial Act to clarify those sections at issue.