The Clock On Your Case
Minn. Stat. 629.292 — a prisoner's request, then six months to trial or dismissal with prejudice
This clock runs only for a person already serving a prison term in the state who has charges pending elsewhere in it. It is the one the statute gives that person, and it starts with a written request.
Six months. A person imprisoned in a state correctional facility may request in writing, to the court and the prosecutor, final disposition of any untried indictment or complaint. Within six months after the court and prosecutor receive the request and certificate, or additional time granted for good cause in open court, the case is brought to trial, or no court has jurisdiction and it is dismissed with prejudice.
Being told. The commissioner of corrections promptly informs each prisoner in writing of any untried charge and the right to request disposition. Failing to do so within one year after a detainer is filed entitles the prisoner to dismissal with prejudice.
The constitutional right to a speedy trial runs alongside the statute and is decided on different terms; court rules, and the interstate agreement on detainers for charges in another state, are not on this page. Counting the days in a particular case, and what tolls them, is a question for a licensed Minnesota attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Minn. Stat. 629.292 — Uniform Mandatory Disposition of Detainers Act
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Minnesota attorney.