Young people charged with delinquency offenses in US juvenile courts cannot assert a right to speedy trial. As with several other rights enjoyed exclusively by adults (e.g., trial by jury, consideration of bail), a federal right to speedy trial is not provided for juveniles. Some states, however, have established time standards for the juvenile court's handling of young offenders. In a few cases, state laws have been enough to provoke prejudicial dismissal of delinquency charges when court delays have exceeded statutory requirements. Other states have acted to restrict or even to deny speedy trial for juveniles. Differences on this issue appear to be growing among courts and legislatures. 

This article was published originally in Judicature, Vol. 83, No. 1, July–August 1999. It is reproduced with the permission of the American Judicature Society.