Legal Definitions - Speedy Trial Act (1974)

The Speedy Trial Act is a law that requires a criminal defendant to be brought to trial within seventy days of either their indictment or first appearance in court. This law is codified at 18 U.S.C.A. § 3161 et seq. Certain delays are automatically excluded from the seventy-day period.

If someone is arrested for a crime and brought to court, the Speedy Trial Act requires that they be brought to trial within seventy days. This means that the trial must start within seventy days of the person's indictment or first appearance in court. However, certain delays, such as delays caused by the defendant or their lawyer, are excluded from the seventy-day period.

For example, if the defendant requests more time to prepare their case, this delay would not count towards the seventy-day period. Similarly, if the defendant becomes ill and cannot attend court, this delay would also be excluded from the seventy-day period.

The purpose of the Speedy Trial Act is to ensure that criminal defendants are not held in jail for long periods of time without a trial. This law helps to protect the rights of defendants and ensures that justice is served in a timely manner.