Swiss Criminal Procedure guarantees the right to be heard within a reasonable time through a variety of instruments: Article 6 ( 1) of the European Convention on Human Rights, Article 29 of the Swiss Constitution, most of the 26 cantonal (state) laws of Criminal Procedure, as well as - most recently - tne proposal for a Federal Code of Criminal Procedure attach considerable importance to this institution. The cantonal (state) rules of procedure accelerate criminal proceedings by specifying strict time limits. Moreover, the public prosecutor will intervene to ensure that the time limits for preliminary proceedings are observed. Different types of summary procedures - for example the 'Strafbefehlsverfahren' - expedite the proceedings. This paper presents arid critically assesses the regulatory framework and the implementation of the right to be heard as provided for by the Swiss law of Criminal Procedure.
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