House Judiciary Committee debates S.87 to honor out-of-state extradition waivers, extend holding period

The House Judiciary Committee on April 2 examined S.87, a bill from the governor’s office that would allow Vermont to recognize pre-signed extradition waivers executed in other states and would lengthen the statutory maximum period someone may be held under extradition-related authority from 90 days to 120 days.

Committee members heard from Assistant Attorney General Tom Alos and Sophie Stratton of the Vermont Attorney General’s Office, and from Rebecca Turner of the Defender General’s Office. Supporters said the change would reduce paperwork and the time required to return people to demanding states; defenders and the committee pressed for clearer safeguards, judicial review points and data about how long transfers actually take.

Tom Alos, assistant attorney general, summarized current practice and why the bill is proposed. He described the existing process: when a person wanted by another state is arrested in Vermont, law enforcement confirms the out-of-state warrant in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), Vermont prosecutors file a fugitive petition in a Vermont court, and the case proceeds to arraignment and (if the person does not waive extradition in court) a requisition that goes through the demanding state’s prosecutor and governor before Vermont issues a governor’s warrant. Alos said that process “consumes time and…