Implementation of the Time Frames Legislated in the Speedy Trial Act of 1974

The Judicial Conference, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, and the Department of Justice believe that Congress should lengthen the time within which criminal defendants are brought to trial from 100 to 180 days, so that a large number of criminal cases will not be dismissed because the time frame was not met. GAO believes that there is lack of evidence to evaluate the impact of the Speedy Trial Act. Therefore, GAO recommends that the Judicial Conference of the United States, in cooperation with the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and the Judicial Councils, should: develop data on a representative basis that clearly shows why cases are not processed within the Act's 100-day arrest-to-trial time frame; quantify the problems and identify the various alternatives at the district court level, as well as systemwide, which could be used to overcome these problems and which would allow for the Act's effective implementation without decreasing the quality of justice; and provide periodic reports to the Congress to demonstrate the problems with the Act and recommended improvements. The Congress is faced with the decision as to whether the Speedy Trial Act should be implemented or be modified; GAO believes the Act should be modified to require the courts to use the 100-day time frame and postpone implementation of the dismissal sanction for 18 to 24 months. This would require the courts to fully identify and document the problems encountered for those cases exceeding the 100-day time frame and would provide a more adequate basis for deciding what the appropriate time frame should be.