--- title: "United States v. Lovasco" citation: "United States v. Lovasco, 431 U.S. 783 (1977)" authority_id: "AUTH-SCOTUS-LOVASCO-431-US-783" authority_type: "case" jurisdiction: "federal_nationwide" precedential_status: "binding" official_url: "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-431/pdf/USREPORTS-431-783.pdf" url: "https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/authorities/AUTH-SCOTUS-LOVASCO-431-US-783/" legal_review: "2026-08-25" links_checked: "2026-10-15" links_available: 1 links_checked_count: 1 license: "CC BY 4.0" --- # United States v. Lovasco ## Holding used Actual prejudice is generally necessary but not sufficient for a due-process preaccusation-delay claim; the reasons for delay also matter. Good-faith investigative delay does not violate due process merely because the defense was somewhat prejudiced, and prosecutors need not charge immediately upon probable cause. ## Material limitation The Court left lower courts to apply settled due-process principles to particular reasons and records; circuit formulations and the actual evidence must be checked. ## Official source and pinpoints 431 U.S. 783, 789–96 (1977): ## Used in - [Federal Charging and Commencement](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/10-investigation-and-charging/federal-charging-and-commencement.md)