State vs. International Extradition

You may find information on what to do if you are facing extradition here.

Extradition is the formal procedure by which one country or state returns a suspected or convicted criminal to another country or jurisdiction. Treaties govern the practice of extradition. These accords often specify how the extradition procedure will be carried out. Extradition may occur for a variety of reasons, the most common of which is that the penalty for a certain act is more severe in the receiving nation or state.

When contesting extradition, there are a few things to keep in mind. The first step is to request a lawyer. If your lawyer thinks it is appropriate, do not tell anybody about what transpired in the requested state or nation. Extradition is almost hard to oppose, therefore if you are extradited, you will almost certainly be placed under the authority of the requesting nation.

The Extradition of Fugitives Clause is a regulation regulating extradition between states in the United States. According to this legislation, any fugitive who has escaped from a state where they have committed a crime must be returned to that state. The United States also has extradition treaties with over 100 countries throughout the globe, however it should be noted that some countries allow extradition without a treaty. Without a treaty, the United States may extradite persons who commit crimes against US citizens overseas.

If you are facing extradition, you may choose from various options. You may ‘waive’ extradition and accept to be freely returned to the asking nation. You may also request that the extradition request be heard. All evidence of the offense that would justify extradition would be evaluated during the hearing.

Fighting extradition requires the assistance of an expert attorney.