What is the primary purpose of tolling in the context of criminal proceedings?

The primary purpose of tolling in the context of criminal proceedings is to stop the running of the clock due to a defendant fleeing. Tolling refers to the legal suspension or pausing of a statute of limitations or other time-sensitive legal deadlines. When a defendant absconds or evades law enforcement, the legal system may implement tolling to ensure that the defendant does not benefit from their flight by having time effectively paused while they are unavailable to face charges. This ensures that justice can be served without allowing defendants to escape accountability by simply avoiding arrest for a certain period of time.

Tolling is important because it ensures that prosecutorial efforts are not undermined by a defendant's intentional actions to delay the proceedings. This mechanism protects the integrity of the judicial process and helps maintain the balance between the rights of the accused and the interests of society in pursuing justice.

In this context, the other options do not accurately reflect the main principle of tolling. Allowing more time for defense preparation or delaying trial for logistical reasons may occur in the legal system but are not specifically tied to the function of tolling. Similarly, expediting communication between parties does not relate to the core purpose of tolling in criminal procedure.