Plazos para el juicio de casos criminales en Virginia

Explicación Simple

En Virginia, si alguien es acusado de un crimen, el juez debe fijar una fecha para su juicio. Si no se presenta un caso en un tiempo determinado, la persona puede salir de la cárcel.

Es como cuando tienes que entregar un proyecto en la escuela. Si no lo entregas a tiempo, el profesor puede dejar que te vayas a casa, pero eso no significa que no tengas que hacerlo después.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan fue arrestado por un robo. Si su juicio no se lleva a cabo en un plazo específico, el juez puede permitir que Juan salga de la cárcel. Sin embargo, eso no significa que el caso se haya cerrado; aún podría enfrentarse a un juicio más tarde.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

Va. Code § 19.2-241 - Time within which court to set criminal cases for trial. The judge of each circuit court shall fix a day of his court when the trial of criminal cases will commence, and may make such general or special order in reference thereto, and to the summoning of witnesses, as may seem proper, but all criminal cases shall be disposed of before civil cases, unless the court shall direct otherwise. When an indictment is found against a person for felony or when an appeal has been perfected from the conviction of a misdemeanor or traffic infraction, the accused, if in custody, or if he appear according to his recognizance, may be tried at the same term and shall be tried within the time limits fixed in § 19.2-243 ; provided that no trial shall be held on the first day of the term unless it be with consent of the attorney for the Commonwealth and the accused and his attorney. Code 1950, §§ 19.1-188 through 19.1-190; 1960, c. 366; 1972, c. 705; 1975, c. 495; 1977, c. 585; 1978, c. 410. Va. Code § 19.2-242 - Accused discharged from jail if not indicted in time. A person in jail on a criminal charge that has been certified or otherwise transferred from a district court to a circuit court shall be discharged from imprisonment if a presentment, indictment or information be not found or filed against him before the end of the second term of the court at which he is held to answer, unless it appear to the court that material witnesses for the Commonwealth have been enticed or kept away or are prevented from attendance by sickness or inevitable accident, and except, also, in the cases provided in §§ 19.2-168.1 and 19.2-169.1 . A discharge under the provisions of this section shall not, however, prevent a reincarceration after a presentment or indictment has been fou