What happens if a person commits a crime in one state but is captured in another state?

Asked by: Amara Dietrich  |  Last update: July 14, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (27 votes)

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.

Can a state prosecute a crime committed in another state?

Can a state charge you for something you did in another state? Yes, if you commit a crime in another state, you are subject to that state's jurisdiction for arrest and prosecution.

What is criminal extradition between states?

Interstate Extradition

Within the United States, the Constitution and the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act (UCEA) mandate extradition between states. This ensures that individuals cannot escape justice by moving to another state. States cooperate to return fugitives to the jurisdiction where the crime was committed.

What happens if you commit a crime and leave the state?

When you commit a crime in another state, you will face charges in that state, which can significantly increase the level of inconvenience and complexity of the matter.

What would happen if you committed a crime in one state, traveled to a different state, and were found by those police?

Key Takeaways: If you are arrested and charged in another state, the court will expect you to show up to face the charges. Another state can issue an out-of-state warrant to extradite you to the state to face criminal charges.

What Happens If You Commit a Crime in Another State

33 related questions found

Which states do not 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.

Can a cop from a different state pull you over?

Example: You are a resident of California. You are driving your car through the state of Nebraska and speeding. A Nebraska police office can pull you over and ticket you for speeding or any other Nebraska traffic violation that you have committed. So, yes.

Will a felony in one state show up in another?

All felony convictions will show up on a criminal background check. However, if the background check is run in a state that is different from the one in which the felony was committed, it may not show up.

Do you go to jail in the state you committed the crime?

Can You Be Held in Jail for an Out-of-State Arrest? Yes, the jurisdiction that arrests you can hold you in jail pretrial. You're still entitled to a bail hearing and appointment of counsel if you can't afford a lawyer. But that jurisdiction doesn't care where you're from when it comes to an arrest.

Do states extradite for misdemeanors?

If requested by the charging state, US states and territories must extradite anyone charged with a felony, misdemeanor, or even petty offense in another US state or territory, even if the offense is not a crime in the custodial state.

Are all crimes 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 must happen to a criminal who flees from one state to another?

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.

How to beat extradition?

Waiving Extradition

One way to fight the situation is to become compliant and agree to waive extradition. This provides the lawyers attached to the case with less of a fight in acquiring the person to face charges and may even work in favor of the person when he or she cooperates throughout the entire process.

Can a pending felony be dropped?

A felony charge may be dropped before trial if new evidence comes to light proving innocence or casting reasonable doubt. It may also occur if the prosecutor decides the case is too weak to lead to a conviction.

Who investigates interstate crimes?

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Do state police have jurisdiction in other states?

The jurisdiction of a federal officer is the entire United States. State police officers have jurisdiction only in the state they have officer employment status in, meaning a North Dakota Highway patrol officer cannot arrest someone in North Carolina.

Does turning yourself in reduce your sentence?

There are so many things that factor into sentencing that there is no way to say “turning yourself in will cut off 2yrs or 60% of your sentence.” In general, in the US plea deals result in less harsh punishments because you are saving the state the time, money and uncertainty of a trial.

What crimes are not federal?

Examples of State and Federal Crimes

Examples of state criminal charges include rape, murder, DUI, drug possession, theft, robbery, shoplifting, and assault. Most misdemeanor charges are state crimes. Common examples of federal criminal charges include tax evasion, terrorism, and those levied by the IRS.

Can you be charged with a crime without going to jail?

Essentially, a criminal charge can occur without an arrest because charging someone and arresting them are separate parts of the legal process. Law enforcement or prosecutors can file charges against an individual based on evidence and witness statements without needing to physically detain them.

What states are felon friendly?

These Are the States Most Likely to Hire Former Felons
  • California.
  • Colorado.
  • Kansas.
  • Maryland.
  • Massachusetts.
  • Montana.
  • Nevada.
  • New Hampshire.

Do felony warrants show up in other states?

How California shares warrant information with other states. In California, warrant information is primarily shared through the NCIC. When a warrant is issued in California, law enforcement agencies often enter it into the NCIC, making it accessible to officers across the country.

What is the 7 year background check law in Tennessee?

The FCRA restricts non-conviction information reported by a CRA to a 7-year lookback period which includes civil judgments, tax liens, and most credit report information. It excludes bankruptcies, which may be reported for up to 10 years and criminal convictions, which may be reported indefinitely.

Can police ask why they pulled you over?

This applies whether you are stopped in a car or while walking. An officer can no longer ask you to tell them why they stopped you or pulled you over. If the officer asks you why they stopped you, do not give them any information.

Can state troopers follow you across state lines?

Yes, authorities from one State can pursue a subject into another neighboring state, but they generally have to notify the “gaining” state ASAP and coordinate for the pursuit to be taken over by the “gaining” state.

What is fresh pursuit in law?

Fresh pursuit is also known as hot pursuit or immediate pursuit, and means that the police officers have the right to conduct a continuous pursuit beyond their own jurisdiction in order to apprehend a suspect.