Walter Patterson Justice and Extradition Act

Key Points

• This bill would require a yearly report on people who have fled the United States to avoid prison or trial. The report would list how many people are hiding in other countries and which countries are refusing to send them back.
• The plan was inspired by George Wright, who was convicted of a 1962 murder in New Jersey but escaped prison and fled to Portugal. Even though Portugal is a close ally, they have refused to send him back to the United States to finish his sentence.
• The report would look at why other countries say no to these requests and how long these cases have been stuck. It would also track how many times other countries have asked the United States to send people back to them.
• Supporters say this will help the government do a better job of bringing criminals to justice. It also tells American diplomats to make these cases a top priority when they meet with foreign leaders.

Impact Analysis

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