CPL § 190.80

Grand jury; release of defendant upon failure of timely grand jury action

§ 190.80 Grand jury; release of defendant upon failure of timely grand

jury action.

Upon application of a defendant who on the basis of a felony complaint has been held by a local criminal court for the action of a grand jury, and who, at the time of such order or subsequent thereto, has been committed to the custody of the sheriff pending such grand jury action, and who has been confined in such custody for a period of more than forty-five days, or, in the case of a juvenile offender or adolescent offender, thirty days, without the occurrence of any grand jury action or disposition pursuant to subdivision one, two or three of section 190.60, the superior court by which such grand jury was or is to be impaneled must release him on his own recognizance unless:

(a) The lack of a grand jury disposition during such period of confinement was due to the defendant's request, action or condition, or occurred with his consent; or

(b) The people have shown good cause why such order of release should not be issued. Such good cause must consist of some compelling fact or circumstance which precluded grand jury action within the prescribed period or rendered the same against the interest of justice.

Official sourcehttps://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/190.80

In plain English

A defendant held on a felony complaint and committed to the sheriff's custody who has been confined more than 45 days (or 30 days for a juvenile offender or adolescent offender) ★ without any grand jury action must be released on his own recognizance by the superior court — UNLESS: (a) the delay was due to the defendant's own request/action/condition or consent; or (b) the people show good cause (a compelling fact that prevented action or made it against the interest of justice).

Marked in the text: penalties, time limits, sums of money. Editorial emphasis added by this edition; it does not appear in the statute as enacted.

In print

This provision appears in Volume 3 — The JG-22 Criminal Procedure Law and in Volume 1 — The JG-22 in Plain English.