Extradition
Extradition
Extradition law in the United States is the formal process by which a fugitive found in the United
States is surrendered to another country or state for trial or punishment. For foreign countries, the
process is regulated by treaty and conducted between the federal government of the United
States and the government of a foreign country. The process is considerably different from interstate
or intrastate extradition. Florida, Alaska, and Hawaii do not extradite for a misdemeanor conviction
that was convicted in the US, as of 2010. Some felonies are an exception in American law such as a
crime that is violent in nature, or a sexual offense, or felony driving while intoxicated; they will entail
extradition from all states in the United States. Theft charges and small drug crimes are the
exception; for instance, if a minor crime is committed in Florida, a person apprehended in Idaho will
not be extradited back to the original crime's jurisdiction. Federal charges are governed by US
federal law and most states, with the exceptions of South Carolina and Missouri, have adopted the
Uniform Criminal Extradition Act. In practice, Florida, Alaska, and Hawaii typically do not extradite if
the crime in question is not a felony because of the associated costs of transporting the suspect and
the housing fees that must be paid to the jurisdiction in which he is held until transported.