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EXTRADITION FROM STATE TO STATE FOR VIOLENT CRIME OFFENDERS TOO COSTLY?

Thousands of suspects wanted for crimes – sometimes violent crimes – have found a way to beat the system: move to another state. A recent USA Today investigation reported that there are more than 186,000 fugitives that are formally designated “immune from extradition” because police and prosecutors don’t want to spend the time or money to retrieve them from another state. See ( USA TODAY ARTICLE).

In some cases, these fugitives are just across the state line, yet the state refuses to bring them back to face charges. USA Today described Philadelphia as one of the easiest places for suspects to simply move in order to avoid criminal punishment. ( See id.) According to the investigation, Philadelphia, which has a high crime rate, has decided not to collect ninety‑three (93) percent of their wanted felons; even when those suspects are just across the state line, in Camden, New Jersey, which is just three (3) subway stops away from the city center. ( See id.)

In some cases, these fugitives are found by police in another state, but the original state decides not to extradite and then the suspect goes on to commit another violent crime. That is what happened in the case of Lamont Pride, a fugitive from North Carolina who was picked up by police in New York in 2011. ( See id.) The Greensboro, North Carolina decided not to extradite him and then, within in a month, he shot and killed a New York City police officer. ( See id.)

Why is this happening? Why are police departments refusing to bring suspects back across state lines to face charges for criminal conduct? The reasons cited for decisions not to extradite include the fact that extradition is complicated, costly and time-consuming. Are new laws needed to make extradition across state lines easier? We are not talking about extradition from another country – we are talking about extradition from another state in this country. Before the USA Today investigation, the public and many victims were unaware of the relative ease fugitives had of escaping punishment by moving to another state. Now that the issue is out in the open – perhaps some changes will be made.