The Speedy Trial Act of 1974, codified at 18 U.S.C. § 3161 et seq., is a United States federal law that establishes time limits for completing various stages of a federal criminal prosecution. Its main purpose is to ensure that defendants are not held indefinitely without trial and to prevent undue delay in the administration of justice.
Under the act, a criminal defendant must be brought to trial within seventy days of either their indictment or initial appearance in court, unless certain delays are automatically excluded from this seventy-day period. The act also outlines procedures for granting continuances and extensions of time limits, as well as the consequences for violating its provisions.
See also: speedy trial
[Last updated in June of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]
- Keywords