Extradition is the formal process by which one jurisdiction requests and obtains the surrender of a person located in another jurisdiction so that the person can be charged with crimes or serve a sentence there. In practice, it involves a legal request from a requesting state or country to a requested state or country, often governed by treaties or statutes, and it typically applies to individuals who are fugitives or have pending charges. Key points
- Purpose and scope: Extradition transfers a person accused or convicted of crimes so they can stand trial or complete punishment in the jurisdiction where the crime was alleged to have occurred. This is a cooperative cross-border mechanism among sovereign states.
- Legal basis: Extradition is usually regulated by treaties or multilateral agreements; many jurisdictions also rely on domestic laws that implement those treaties. Common concepts include the political offense exception and double jeopardy restrictions, depending on the legal regime.
- Process overview: A requesting authority submits a formal extradition request with supporting evidence. The requested state reviews the request under its laws, may hold the person for hearing, and decides whether to surrender them. If surrendered, custody and transfer are managed by law enforcement and judicial authorities of both states.
- Distinctions to note:
- Extradition differs from deportation: deportation removes a person from a country for immigration reasons, while extradition concerns criminal prosecution or punishment.
* Rendition is a related term used in some contexts for transfer within or between jurisdictions, sometimes outside formal extradition procedures.
If you’d like, I can tailor this explanation to a specific country or region (for example, the United States, the United Kingdom, or the European Union) and outline the typical steps, notable exceptions, and recent developments relevant to that jurisdiction.
