A growing number of criminal cases, some involving grave charges like attempted murder, have been dismissed across New York state due to prosecutors failing to adhere to “speedy trial” deadlines.
Over the last four and a half years, the surge in such dismissals is evident, with a 161% statewide increase.
These “30.30 dismissals”, named after Section 30.30 of New York’s criminal procedure law, demand prosecutors be prepared for trial within stipulated timeframes based on the gravity of charges.
Any delay can lead to case dismissal. This trend has intensified following changes to pretrial discovery rules in 2020, requiring prosecutors to disclose evidence to the defense sooner.
Many prosecutors decry these reforms as hasty and underfunded, while defense attorneys argue they’re essential for fair trials.
With statewide speedy trial dismissals jumping from 12,007 in 2019 to 31,321 in 2022, the debate continues to evolve on the balance between quick justice and thorough prosecution.
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