What is extradition?

Extradition refers to the legal process through which one jurisdiction surrenders an individual accused or convicted of a crime to another jurisdiction for prosecution or to serve a sentence. This typically occurs between different states or countries, allowing for the enforcement of laws across borders.

The essence of extradition lies in international treaties or state laws that provide a framework for such transfers, ensuring that a suspect faces justice in the appropriate legal system. This process is vital in maintaining law and order, as it prevents individuals from evading justice simply by crossing state or national lines.

Understanding extradition is crucial because it connects various legal principles, such as jurisdiction and international law. It also emphasizes the collaboration between different legal systems to uphold accountability and ensure that individuals cannot escape prosecution by fleeing from one jurisdiction to another.