[Devil_Anse]

I've never known of anyone who was in jail for years on end in this country, w/o ever having been found guilty of a crime.

OJ spent about a year in jail, didn't he? Only b/c no bail was allowed for capital murder. 99% of offenses charge allow a bail amount to be set. The bail amount is changeable, to reflect the prisoner's prior record of violence, and his level of threat (if any) to the victims of the crime charged. Prisoners can ask a judge over and over again, if they choose, to have their bail amount lowered. They get to present evidence to support their position.

Sometimes court dockets are clogged. But years on end? Not that I've ever heard of.

[Spunky]

"I've never known of anyone who was in jail for years on end in this country, w/o ever having been found guilty of a crime."

A while back when there was discussion on the Westerfild thread about him not waiving his right to a speedy trial there was discussion on how soon the trial would have to take place if he did not waive his right.

I did a Google search and came up with a thread that gave a case where a person has been in jail for 5 years and has never been charged yet. I am unable to find that thread but found this one this time.

SWIFT JUSTICE? THE RIGHT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL

"Although four murder suspects were quite pleased with a City judge's decision to dismiss first-degree murder charges against them, others, including the victim's family, have reacted to these dismissals with outrage. According to Judge Roger W. Brown, these defendants were denied their state constitutional rights to a speedy trial by being placed on hold for nearly three years. Yet, his dismissal of all charges against these men has prompted many serious questions about our criminal justice system:"

Swift Justice?