How long have they been held?
During an arrest the days blur, and knowing exactly how long someone has been held matters for every conversation with the court. Enter the arrest date to get an accurate count, and add the next hearing date to see how long that is.
This tool runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is transmitted or stored.
How this works
Two separate clocks run after an arrest. The first is the practical one: how long the person has actually been in custody. The second is the legal one, made up of statutory time limits for a first appearance and, later, the speedy-trial rules of the jurisdiction.
This tool counts the practical clock from the date you enter. It cannot model the legal clock, because the limits depend on the state, the charge and whether the case is state or federal.
Continuances, court holidays and the availability of counsel all extend the process in practice. Use this as a factual record of elapsed time, not as a prediction of when something will happen.
Where the defaults come from
Every rate in this tool is editable. The starting values are the most common figures we could source, and you should replace them with the actual figures that apply to your jurisdiction.
- Bail and pretrial releaseUnited States Courts
- Jail incarceration dataBureau of Justice Statistics
Frequently asked questions
How soon must someone see a judge?
In federal cases a first appearance is generally required promptly, and states set their own limits, commonly within one to a few days of arrest. Weekends and holidays frequently push the hearing to the next business day.
Does time in custody count toward the sentence?
Often, yes — many jurisdictions credit time served before sentencing against the eventual sentence. Whether it applies, and at what rate, is set by state law or the sentencing court.
What delays a first appearance?
Weekends and holidays, the availability of a judge or defence counsel, transport between facilities, and in some cases a brief hold for investigation. None of these change the underlying statutory limit.
Where can I confirm the actual hearing date?
The court clerk for the jurisdiction handling the case is the authoritative source. Many courts also publish a daily or weekly calendar online.
Last reviewed and updated: