Getting arrested for DUI does not mean you will be convicted. Police misconduct, defective breathalyzers and crime lab mistakes may be enough to get your charges lessened or dismissed. Visit our page on Colorado DUI Laws to learn more.
Colorado DUI
Getting arrested for DUI does not mean you will be convicted. Police misconduct, defective breathalyzers and crime lab mistakes may be enough to get your charges lessened or dismissed. Visit our page on Colorado DUI Laws to learn more.
Colorado In-Depth
It is normal to be frightened and overwhelmed following an arrest. Therefore our lawyers are devoted to demystifying major topics in Colorado criminal defense law.
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Please note: Our firm only handles criminal and DUI cases, and only in California. We do not handle any of the following cases:
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Call Us NowDenver Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyers » Extradition From Another State into Colorado
Extradition into Colorado is the legal process of bringing a fugitive from justice, who is currently in another state, back to Colorado. Colorado may extradite fugitives suspected of committing any felony, misdemeanor, or petty offense. But because extradition is expensive, Colorado typically pursues fugitives suspected of only serious crimes such as homicides, rape (CRS 18-3-402), grand theft, drug trafficking, and escaping prison (CRS 18-8-208).
Below, our Denver Colorado criminal defense lawyers discuss the following frequently asked questions:
Colorado is considered the “demanding state” when it seeks to extradite an alleged fugitive from another state.
The basic procedures for extradition into Colorado is as follows:
See our related article, extradition out of Colorado.
A governor’s warrant is the document permitting an asylum state to arrest a fugitive from another state. When a suspected fugitive is wanted by Colorado, Colorado authorities must:
For a governor’s warrant to be valid, it must include:
The governor on the receiving end of the request is the one who signs the governor’s warrant. So when Colorado wants a fugitive returned to Colorado, the governor of the other asylum state must sign the governor’s warrant.4 In addition, the governor of the asylum state is responsible for ensuring that the specific procedures for extradition have all been followed.
Every defendant is entitled to a hearing to fight extradition.
48 of the 50 states in the U.S. have adopted the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act (UCEA). So while every state is a little different, these 48 states largely follow the same extradition procedures as outlined in the UCEA. The only two states that have not adopted the UCEA are:
So if a fugitive from Colorado ever escapes to Missouri or South Carolina, Colorado would need to follow their specific laws in attempt to extradite the fugitive.5
Although Colorado can pursue fugitives suspected of minor offenses, it generally seeks to extradite only people suspected of major crimes such as murder, sexual assault, drug trafficking, and grand theft.
The reason is that the extradition process can be expensive. It is not uncommon for the process to cost between $2,000 to $4,000 or more, depending on the facts of the case.
Still, there might be circumstances where the state feels it is “worth it” to pull a person back – even for a lesser offense. This is especially true when a case has received media attention or has an impact on the political process.
Call our law firm for legal advice. We offer free consultations.
We represent clients in and around Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins, Lakewood, and several nearby cities.