What are the requirements for extradition?

Asked by: Kenny Hilpert  |  Last update: March 21, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (24 votes)

For a person to be extradited interstate, 18 U.S.C. § 3182 requires: An executive authority demand of the jurisdiction to which a person that is a fugitive from justice has fled. The requesting executive must also produce a copy of an indictment found or an affidavit made before a magistrate of any state or territory.

What are the rules of extradition?

A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.

When can extradition be denied?

Extradition may be denied if the requested country believes that the individual will face unfair treatment, torture, or the death penalty in the requesting jurisdiction. Many countries have laws or treaties prohibiting extradition under these circumstances to protect human rights.

What stops extradition?

A fugitive may not be subject to extradition for any number of reasons, if he or she is a national of the country of refuge and that country does not extradite its nationals, the crime is not an extraditable offense, the statute of limitations has run in the foreign country, or the fugitive has been prosecuted in the ...

What crimes can cause extradition?

Some crimes which may be subject to extradition include murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, terrorism, rape, sexual assault, burglary, embezzlement, arson, or espionage. Some of the most common extradition cases involving the U.S. are between our neighboring countries of Mexico and Canada.

How extradition works or doesn't | Fugitives Next Door

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What states won't extradite?

Answer and Explanation: The states of Florida, Hawaii, and Alaska do not extradite for all crimes. However, even these states (along with the others) will extradite for serious crimes, such as murder.

What felonies are extraditable?

Every act forbidden and made punishable by the law of a state is within the operation of the federal constitutional provision on extradition[i]. The words treason, felony, or other crime include every act forbidden and made punishable by a law of the state.

What is an exception to extradition?

Most countries do not allow for extradition for political crimes, which is known as a political-offense exception. The political-offense exception is a clause that limits a sovereign state's responsibilities under an extradition treaty or legislation .

Why would you refuse extradition?

Extradition may be denied for political offenses, and some countries refuse to extradite their own citizens. Many treaties and laws prohibit extradition if the individual may face torture, inhumane treatment, or the death penalty in the requesting country.

Can you be extradited for a civil case?

Extraditions are their own category of case: they are neither criminal nor civil cases, although many concepts from criminal law apply in extradition proceedings.

Will Florida extradite for a felony?

Felony Warrants and Serious Charges

If a person moves out of state after allegedly committing a crime in Florida and has an outstanding felony warrant, they can be arrested in another state under that warrant. Florida typically extradites for serious violent felonies, large thefts, or frauds.

How much jail time for fugitives from justice?

An offender is subject to imprisonment for not more than one year, unless the warrant or process was issued on a felony charge, or after conviction of the fugitive of any offense, in which case the offender faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. In addition, the fine provisions of 18 U.S.C.

What is extradite law?

To extradite is to transfer an incarcerated person from one jurisdiction to another, so that the person might be tried or punished for crimes committed in the latter jurisdiction.

Can you avoid extradition?

Countries without such treaties might refuse extradition for various reasons, including political considerations, differing legal systems, or concerns about human rights abuses in the requesting country. For example, a country may refuse to extradite someone if they face the death penalty, torture, or unfair trials.

What is the extradition process?

process by which one State surrenders an individual found on its territory to. another State where he is wanted either to stand trial or to serve a penal. sentence already pronounced against him.

Who has the power to request or refuse extradition?

International extradition requests are not initiated by private individuals. Only prosecuting authorities may initiate an extradition request, usually, after charges are filed and a court has issued a warrant of arrest for the person.

Are all felonies extraditable?

More serious charges, such as felony offenses, are typically extraditable, while minor offenses, such as traffic violations, may not be. However, this does not mean that you should ignore a warrant for a minor offense. It is always best to address any outstanding warrants, regardless of the severity of the offense.

What is a warrant exception?

The Exigent Circumstances Exception

Law enforcement often responds to emergencies that may threaten public safety. In such situations, it is impractical to submit a warrant application where the delay could lead to substantial bodily harm, death, or destruction of evidence.

Does a state have to agree to extradition?

The requesting executive must produce a copy of an indictment found or have an affidavit made before a magistrate. If both governors approve the request, they will hold an extradition hearing. A court in the state with the fugitive will decide to grant or deny extradition.

What crimes can be extradited?

Generally, international extradition applies to serious offenses such as murder, drug trafficking, fraud, and other major crimes. When dealing with interstate extraditions, the prosecuting authority can extradite a person for any felony prosecution.

What states don't extradite for felonies?

South Carolina, Louisiana, and Mississippi are the states that have not signed the UCEA, making them non-extradition states. In non-extradition states like South Carolina, Louisiana, and Mississippi, the process of extraditing fugitives can be more complex and challenging.

How to stop extradition?

The grounds for contesting extradition are limited but may include the following:
  1. Lack of probable cause;
  2. Mistaken identity (i.e., you're not the person being sought);
  3. Errors in the extradition documents; or.
  4. The offense does not qualify for extradition under California law.

What is an example of extradition?

Famous examples include the extradition dispute with Canada on Charles Ng, who was eventually extradited to the United States on murder charges. Countries with a rule of law typically make extradition subject to review by that country's courts.

How far will Michigan extradite?

The US Constitution's Extradition Clause requires states to transfer a fugitive from justice who has committed a “treason, felony, or other crime” to the state from which the fugitive has fled upon the demand of another state. The extradition radius in Michigan is unlimited.