Legal Definitions - Extradition Clause

The Extradition Clause is a provision in the United States Constitution that requires any person accused of a crime who flees to another state to be returned to the state where the crime was committed upon request of the executive authority of that state. This clause is found in Article IV, Section 2, Clause 2 of the Constitution.

If a person commits a crime in California and then flees to Nevada, the California governor can request that the Nevada governor extradite the accused back to California to face charges. The Extradition Clause ensures that criminals cannot escape justice by simply crossing state lines.

Another example would be if a person commits a crime in New York and then flees to Florida. The New York governor can request that the Florida governor extradite the accused back to New York to face charges.

These examples illustrate how the Extradition Clause works to ensure that criminals cannot evade justice by fleeing to another state. It allows for cooperation between states in the pursuit of justice and upholding the law.