How long does the term of an indictment last?

Answer 1

They have. The Constitutional guarantee of a "speedy trial" was to avoid the practice of throwing someone in jail without charges just to get them off the streets. Now, it would be NICE to say "a trial should come six weeks after indictment," or six months or whatever. Consider this, though: Joe's a computer hacker. He used his PC to steal ten billion dollars. If the feds spend a year building an airtight case against Joe before they pick him up, by the time they get enough to put him in jail for a thousand years he will have disappeared to Antigua. Plus, in the year they're using to build the case, Joe is still stealing money. It would be better for all concerned to lock Joe up so he can't steal more money, indict him and bring him to trial after they KNOW they can convict, rather than to quickly create a bad case against him, lose, and have to watch Joe walk from the jail to the computer store.

Answer 2

"Speedy trial" decisions usually require that the case go forward in not more than 90 days, UNLESS both the prosecution and the defense jointly agree to a continuance.

Answer 3

I'm not certain that the questioner understands the terminology they are using. INDICTMENTS don't have 'terms.' You are either indicted or you're not.

Answer 4

Until the Grand Jury (or the court) hands it down (issues it).

There are no statutory limitations on how long unissued indictments can be held before actually being served.