Warrants & Failure to Appear

What is extradition and will they come get me?

Attorney-Reviewed Answer
Reviewed by Christopher Walsh, Criminal Trial Attorney (Fla. Bar #127459). Last reviewed: September 2026
Short Answer
The process of transferring someone between states on a warrant. Whether it happens depends largely on the charge and the distance.

Extradition is the formal process by which one state obtains custody of a person arrested in another. Florida participates in the interstate framework governing it.

Whether a state actually extradites is a practical decision as much as a legal one. Serious felonies are pursued. Minor offenses frequently aren't, particularly across long distances, because the cost of transport is real.

A warrant will usually indicate the geographic scope the issuing agency is willing to pursue — sometimes statewide only, sometimes limited to surrounding states, sometimes nationwide.

What that means for you: a warrant that a state won't extradite on is still a warrant. It will surface at every traffic stop, every background check, and every license renewal, and it can produce a night in custody while the other state is contacted even if they ultimately decline.

Non-extradition isn't resolution. It's a warrant that follows you indefinitely.

"They won't come get me" isn't the same as the problem being over. ---

Talk to an Attorney — Free

An answer on a page isn't the same as advice about your case. Talk to an attorney who handles these matters on the Treasure Coast — free and confidential.

This page answers a common question for general informational purposes and is not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is formed by reading it. Florida law changes; while this answer is reviewed by a licensed Florida attorney, the right answer depends on the specific facts of your situation — consult an attorney. Serving Martin, St. Lucie, Palm Beach, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties.