Montgomery Co. Has Two Year Wait for Trial on Drug Cases

The Montgomery County District Attorney says a large backlog of drug cases is burdening the county justice system.

District Attorney Daryl Bailey says that a 1,604-case backlog means that anybody arrested for drug-related charges would currently be waiting more than two years for a trial as evidence is processed.

Bailey says the state’s budget crisis and staff cuts have caused the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences to struggle with the number of cases it needs to analyze.

Because it could take years for accused drug offenders to go to trial, Bailey says many suspects post bail and quickly return to being involved in crimes without having received any punishment or help for their alleged past transgressions.

The ADFS did not respond to several requests for comment.

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