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October 19, 2009

Background on the FBI's “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list

Posted: 06:40 PM ET

By Aziza Jamgerchinova
Associate Producer

The Federal Bureau of Investigation debuted the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list almost 60 years ago, on March 14, 1950. It was an effort to publicize particularly dangerous fugitives.

The idea came about after a wire service story listed the names and descriptions of the "toughest guys" the FBI wanted to capture. The article gave the FBI so much positive publicity that the former director J. Edgar Hoover decided to start the 10 Most Wanted Fugitives program the following year. As of October 7, 2009, there have been 491 fugitives on the list. Four hundred and sixty-three of those have been apprehended, 152 of these as a result of tips from the public.

FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division (CID) decides who will be added to the list. CID starts by asking all 56 field offices to submit candidates for inclusion on the list. The CID in association with the Office of Public Affairs then reviews all submissions and comes up with a list of “finalists” that is sent to CID’s Assistant Director for approval. The final sign-off, however, is done by the FBI's Deputy Director. There are two main factors in the selection for the Most Wanted list: First, the criminal must have a lengthy record of committing serious crimes and be considered a menace to society. Second, the FBI must believe that the nationwide publicity afforded by being on the list will help capture the criminal.

Once on the list there are only three ways to get off it. A criminal must be captured, have charges against them dropped or, in some rare cases, the criminal no longer meets the list criteria. Only eight women have appeared on the Ten Most Wanted list. The first, Ruth Eisemann-Schier, was added in 1968 for kidnapping, extortion, and other crimes.

Click here for more information on the FBI’s top ten most wanted

And if you have any tips for the FBI, you can submit them here


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Eric Church   October 19th, 2009 8:19 pm ET

Sheriff Joe is well within his juridiction! The federal government has no right to over step the local Sheriffs decision!


hackalot   October 19th, 2009 8:22 pm ET

Why is the station asking me to com online for a poll and there is no poll.


Mac   October 19th, 2009 8:24 pm ET

You are so obviously prejudiced concerning illegal aliens that you have no credibility as a journalist


Terry McG   October 19th, 2009 8:49 pm ET

Sheriff "JOE" should be praised not vilified. The crime rate in Maricopa County is going down proportionately to the number of ILLEGALS he is catching.


Priscilla Banks   October 19th, 2009 8:50 pm ET

Just where will the line be drawn ! What about crimes committed by people who say they smoke merruana ? Then their excuse will be
Hey the goverment made it legal ! !


vicki   October 19th, 2009 8:57 pm ET

Ironic, isn't it that this story followed the piece about Sheriff Arpaio and his "misbegotten" efforts to rid Az of illegal aliens..Guess that fellow on the FBI's most wanted list would have been arrested by the lowly sheriff in Maricopa County if he was found in the fellowship of gang members; think of the lives saved!


Vince   October 19th, 2009 9:36 pm ET

Add an "M" to ATF and regulate a substance far less deadly than the other three.
Four hundred thousand are killed by tobacco. Thousands more are killed by alcohol and firearms each year. I do not have a statistic on pot. I suspect it is tiny in comparison. Oakland now collects a good deal of taxes. Go after the cartels, not the home grower.


Robert Strahan   October 19th, 2009 9:48 pm ET

Are you sick?Fun facts about a list of people that has caused pain and suffering to so many others.I see nothing about this list that would be considered "FUN" and I hope the person that wrote this article would contact the many victims of the people on this list and find out how much "FUN" they had dealing with the pain caused by those on the list.

MODERATOR: You make a fair point. I have updated the title of this post.


Tom   October 19th, 2009 9:58 pm ET

I hold the highest respect for our FBI.So what I'm going to say might look out of caricature but let's do the math how much is to much for the common man(not gendered)willing to give for their safety I am not talking dollars,I'm talking our constitutional rights! If you haven't noticed all the cameras at every corner of our towns.Do you know that analog is a two way street,don't say to much on your phone and worry about the tap on ---You'll never break the law,you might be the one who most jokingly say some word or something that'll set off their alarm and you could be looking out of an unbreakable window wondering what you said or didn't say.But don't let my words spook you look around for yourself!


Marquita Ayala   October 21st, 2009 12:58 am ET

Sheriff Joe is a direct, no nonsense, politically incorrect guy who gets the job done with regard to dealing with illegal immigrants. Because the Federal Government and ICE have a problem with Sheriff Joe's clear words and actions, I currently do not trust our government. We need more dedicated citizens who will stand up and take the heat doing the right thing. Sheriff Joe, I wish we could clone yah. Keep up the good work.


Matt   October 22nd, 2009 12:22 am ET

Sheriff Joe is doing the right thing the people are here in a foreign country ILLEGALLY. Regardless of why they are here, they're not supposed to be. They need to go through the same steps everyone else does to become a citizen the illegals are no better than anyone else and don't deserver preferential treatment. They waste are tax dollars and are a pain.


joe   October 22nd, 2009 2:42 am ET

the federal government should be on the list along with all those TARP recipients.. where does the FBI draw the line who is and isn't a criminal in today's world?.. A difficult choice I'm sure...


fugative on the list the longest   October 22nd, 2009 10:35 am ET

The person on the list the longest, and at number one the longest is Osama Bin Laden, due in large part because Bush, the CIA, military, and now Obama have made NO SERIOUS EFFORT to find him. Bush too busy invading unrelated countries, Obama too busy socializing our economy, the CIA and military, hopelessly incompetent.


sheree wilson   October 22nd, 2009 11:37 am ET

I rest my case!!!! there is an illegal immigration problem and it is going to get worse. OUt of 10 Most wanted fugitives, 4 are of Mexican/ Hispanic descendant. We might as well move to Mexico and let them have the U.S. If the government is not going to deal with the immigrant problems in this country.


Jean-Paul   October 31st, 2009 5:28 pm ET

As far as I am concerned the following people should be on the FBI top ten list. George W Bush, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove. All three are war criminals and should be brought to justice. Should be accused of treason.


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