Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) Practice Exam

What is extradition?

1. The process of appealing a court decision

2. The voluntary return of a suspect to face charges

3. The delivery of a fugitive under an extradition treaty

4. The agreement of countries to limit criminal activity

The correct answer is: The delivery of a fugitive under an extradition treaty

Extradition refers specifically to the formal process by which one jurisdiction delivers a person accused or convicted of a crime to another jurisdiction under an extradition treaty. This is a legal mechanism that allows for cooperation between countries, enabling them to address issues of crime that cross borders. It involves a request from one country to another to surrender a fugitive that has fled to the latter country, to ensure that legal proceedings can continue against that individual. The process involves a legal framework and often requires that the charged crime be recognized as such in both jurisdictions. The remaining options do not accurately capture the definition of extradition. The process of appealing a court decision involves legal review and is not related to the transfer of individuals across jurisdictions. A voluntary return of a suspect to face charges may happen but is not characterized as extradition, which involves a formalized legal process and often a treaty. An agreement of countries to limit criminal activity addresses international cooperation but does not specifically define extradition itself.