[JURIST] Tony Garza, the US Ambassador to Mexico [embassy website], said Tuesday that Mexico has extradited 50 prisoners to the US this year, a record total, for stateside prosecution of crimes committed in the US. The Supreme Court of Mexico [official website] ruled last November that prisoners serving life sentences may be extradited abroad [JURIST report], overturning a 2001 decision [EscapingJustice.com backgrounder] that prevented such prisoners from answering to charges in the US insofar as punishment there might be cruel and unusual and not directed at rehabilitation of the prisoner. A 1978 treaty between the US and Mexico still prevents the extradition of prisoners who face the death penalty.

Last month, Mexican President Vicente Fox [official website; BBC profile] said that Mexican officials would begin extraditing suspected drug lords [JURIST report] held in Mexican custody to the US to face drug charges. AP has more.