Extradite

Extradite is the act by which one state surrenders a person to another state for prosecution or punishment for offenses committed within the receiving state’s jurisdiction. In practice, extradition is usually governed by bilateral or multilateral treaties, sometimes supplemented by national laws and international legal norms. The procedure is designed to enable cross-border criminal cooperation while respecting the sovereignty of the states involved.

A core principle in extradition is dual criminality: the conduct must be a crime in both the requesting and the extraditing state, and the offense must be capable of punishment under the sending state’s law. Extradition treaties typically specify which offenses are extraditable, often exclude political offenses, and set procedures for requests, evidence standards, and time limits. Many jurisdictions also limit extradition of their own nationals or require assurances that the person will not face the death penalty or unacceptable treatment.

Process and decision-making usually involve official requests from the requesting state, followed by judicial and executive review. A formal arrest or provisional detention may occur, with extradition hearings or appeals in the extraditing country. If approved, the person is surrendered to the authorities of the requesting state for trial or punishment. In some systems, the person may be prosecuted domestically for the same conduct or may be granted asylum to remain free.

Extradition is thus a mechanism of international criminal cooperation, balancing the need to pursue justice with protections for the rights of the person involved and the sovereignty of states.