United States v. Rickey Harris

POSNER, Chief Judge.

The Speedy Trial Act requires the government to indict or file an information against an offender within thirty days of arresting him. 18 U.S.C. § 3161(b). The question is whether a change in the conditions in which a prisoner is being confined can be an “arrest” for this purpose. Harris, a federal prisoner, was suspected of receiving marijuana from a visitor. For refusing to give a urine sample he was “sentenced” to spend 45 days in disciplinary segregation (meaning solitary confinement for all but one hour of the day) and to be transferred to another prison. On June 4,…