What is the ideal time limit from indictment to beginning of trial for a defendant in custody?

What is the ideal time limit from indictment to beginning of trial for a defendant in custody?

• A. 120 days
• B. 180 days
• C. 150 days
• D. 210 days

Answer: (C)

In Arizona, the time a defendant must be brought to trial is tied to whether they are in custody. For someone in custody, the clock from indictment to the start of trial is 150 days. This means the system aims to move the case to trial within roughly five months while they’re detained, balancing the defendant’s right to a speedy proceeding with practical court and investigation needs. Some periods can be legally excluded from that count—such as times granted for the defense to prepare, certain pretrial motions, or other narrowly defined delays—so the actual calendar can extend beyond 150 days if those exclusions apply. If the case isn’t brought to trial within the permitted window due to non-excludable delays, the defendant can seek dismissal on speedy-trial grounds. The other numbers don’t fit this scenario: 180 days is the limit for defendants not in custody, while 120 and 210 days aren’t the standard thresholds in this context.

In Arizona, the time a defendant must be brought to trial is tied to whether they are in custody. For someone in custody, the clock from indictment to the start of trial is 150 days. This means the system aims to move the case to trial within roughly five months while they’re detained, balancing the defendant’s right to a speedy proceeding with practical court and investigation needs. Some periods can be legally excluded from that count—such as times granted for the defense to prepare, certain pretrial motions, or other narrowly defined delays—so the actual calendar can extend beyond 150 days if those exclusions apply. If the case isn’t brought to trial within the permitted window due to non-excludable delays, the defendant can seek dismissal on speedy-trial grounds. The other numbers don’t fit this scenario: 180 days is the limit for defendants not in custody, while 120 and 210 days aren’t the standard thresholds in this context.