Final answer:
A criminal who flees one state to avoid punishment will be subject to extradition under the U.S. Constitution. States are mandated to return fugitives to the state where the crime was committed to face trial and potential incarceration. This ensures that offenders are held accountable, maintaining the integrity of the criminal justice system.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a person committed a crime and fled from one state to another to elude punishment, they would face legal consequences for their actions. According to the U.S. Constitution, particularly under Section 2 Clause 2, states are required to extradite individuals who are fugitives from justice back to the state where the crime occurred. This process ensures that a person cannot simply escape legal repercussions by crossing state lines. If captured, the fugitive will be transported back to the original state to face trial and, if found guilty, to serve a sentence determined by the court, which may involve incarceration based on severity.
This legal requirement is grounded in the principle that states within the United States cooperate with one another in law enforcement. As such, a criminal who flees to another state to avoid punishment will ultimately be held accountable under the laws of the state where they committed the offense, regardless of their location at the time of capture. This is in line with the deterrent and preventive approaches to criminal justice.
In more extreme historical examples, such as the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, individuals who fled to another state not only faced the possibility of being returned but also harsh repercussions such as fines and jail time for those who assisted them. While the context has changed since then, the principle of interstate cooperation in returning fugitives remains in place.