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Extradition facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Baltic extration - 1946
Swedish extradition of German and Baltic soldiers to the Soviet Union in January 1946

Extradition is a process by which someone who has committed a crime, or is suspected to have committed a crime, is handed from one jurisdiction to another. Usually, the country that wants the person makes a formal request to the other. Under international law, there is no obligation to extradite a person. There is a web of treaties, which state under what conditions extradition is possible.

In general:

  • The offense for which the person is sought must be punishable in both countries, usually it must also carry a minimum sentence.
  • The person extradited has the right to get a fair trial.
  • The trial must not be political in nature.
  • Many countries refuse extradition if there is the possibility of the death penalty being imposed, or of torture.
  • Many countries refuse to extradite their own nationals

People who move to a different location to escape legal charges are called fugitives.

Examples

In 2019 protestors in Hong Kong demonstrated against a new extradition law proposed by the the government of mainland China.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Extradición para niños

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