extradition

     When someone is wanted for a crime, and is found in another state, he or she must be delivered to the executive authority ( the governor, or the governor's office ) of the state in which the crime occurred--the state that has jurisdiction. Article V of the United States Constitution guarantees that this right of extradition will be upheld by the federal government and the courts.
    Other cases of extradition that you may read about involve requesting the return of a suspect from a foreign country. This is more complicated, as relations between any two countries are generally made through the treaties they have signed with one another. Extradition may be a part of those treaties, agreed upon by both countries. If the two countries have not signed a treaty that includes a provision for extradition, the country seeking the return of a suspect asks the officials of the foreign government to send him or her back to stand trial--to extradite him or her. The foreign officials may refuse to do this. They may be angry at our country. They may think they can win a concession by refusing to extradite a fugitive. They may think the fugitive will be treated unfairly--for instance, to many countries the death penalty is unfair, and they may refuse to extradite an accused who may be sentenced to execution.
    Two countries who can't agree about an extradition may appeal to the World Court to settle the case--but they would each have to agree, before the hearing,  to accept the court's verdict. Some countries, including the United States, generally refuse to accept the authority of the World Court.