Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Criminal Law Blogs -> Law Of Criminal Defense

Criminal Law

: Law Of Criminal Defense

Chicago Sun-Times: 430 defendants incarcerated two years or more awaiting trial

By John Wesley Hall, Jr.

A story in the Chicago Sun-Times and a related paper mentions that a murder defendant has been awaiting trial in Cook County for six years, 36 more than five years, 430 more than two years. Cases get delayed for various reasons. Critics say both prosecutors and defense attorneys game the system, with prosecutors wanting time to find witnesses, and defense attorneys hoping evidence will fade. Some county judges are reputedly slower than others at moving cases along. The inmates waiting the longest tend to face the most serious charges. One way to speed up cases is to add judges. The Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice last year found that Cook County criminal courts should have 65 judges, but have just 40. That number's about to go to 45. "The introduction of five additional judges will go a long way to alleviate the problems of old cases," said Criminal Court Presiding Judge Paul Biebel...continue to full post

Full post as published by Law Of Criminal Defense on July 07, 2008 (boomark / email).