Opinion ID: 74940
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Dual or Double Criminality

Text: The doctrine of dual or double criminality is distinct from the doctrine of specialty.24 While specialty focuses on the conduct prosecuted, [d]ouble criminality refers to the characterization of the relator's criminal conduct insofar as it constitutes an offense under the law of the respective states .... no state shall use its processes to surrender a person for conduct which it does not characterize as criminal.25 Dual criminality mandates that a prisoner be extradited only for conduct that constitutes a serious offense in both the requesting and surrendering country. Although this presents a slightly closer question, we conclude that Newball, 554 F.2d 665, 685 (5th Cir.1977)). 21 In United States v. Abello-Silva, 948 F.2d 1168 (10th Cir.1991), the court dealt with a defendant's specialty rule challenge to his extradition from Colombia. The court found no right to object at trial to the introduction of evidence that was not part of the request for extradition, so long as the evidence is directed to the charge contained in the request for extradition.'  Id. at 1174 (citing RESTATEMENT (THIRD) OF FOREIGN RELATIONS LAW OF THE UNITED STATES § 477 cmt. c (1987)). The court also stated that United States precedent controlled the application of the specialty doctrine and rejected the defendant's assertion that any dispute over emphasis on 'facts' or 'offenses' in applying the specialty doctrine is resolved by the laws of the asylum country: Colombia. Id. at 1173. 22 813 F.2d 146 (8th Cir.1987). 23 Gallo-Chamorro, 48 F.3d at 506 (citing Thirion, 813 F.2d at 152-53). 24 Id. at 507. 25 Herbage, 850 F.2d at 1465 (quoting 1 M. CHERIF BASSIOUNI, INTERNATIONAL EXTRADITION: UNITED STATES LAW AND PRACTICE 324-25 (2d ed.1987)). Gallo's dual criminality arguments ultimately are unpersuasive.