What is extradition?

• A. The process by which a fugitive is returned to the state from which they fled to escape prosecution.
• B. The process of charging a suspect in absentia.
• C. The process of granting immunity to witnesses.
• D. The process of transferring prisoners within state lines.

Answer: (A)

Extradition is the formal process used to return a fugitive from one state to the state where the crime occurred so they can be prosecuted or complete serving a sentence. When someone flees across state lines, the sending state requests the surrender of that person, and the receiving state conducts the process—often culminating in a governor’s warrant—to transfer custody. This mechanism prevents offenders from escaping justice by crossing borders and is grounded in constitutional provisions and state laws.

Charging a suspect in absentia is about filing charges without the defendant present, not about moving an accused person between states. Granting immunity to witnesses relates to compelling testimony and protecting witnesses, not to returning fugitives. Transferring prisoners within state lines involves moving someone within the same state, which doesn’t involve cross-state surrender.