The Fbi Top 10 Most Wanted Program

On February 7, 1949, an article titled “FBI's Most Wanted Fugitives Named” appeared in the Washington Daily News. It was written by a reporter from United Press International after he had contacted the FBI and asked for information on the “toughest guys” the FBI was searching for. The FBI provided the information in the hope that the publicity would [Page 177]help capture these dangerous offenders. Much to the delight of director J. Edgar Hoover, the list created a sensation. Because of the initial success, the FBI “10 Most Wanted Fugitives” program was developed, and a year later, on March 14, 1950, the first list was published. The 10 Most Wanted List originally appeared on bulletin boards of public buildings, but with the advent of more modern communication systems, such as the Internet, the list is currently available across the country and the rest of the world on the FBI Web site (http://www.fbi.gov). In addition, the list is broadcast through a weekly ABC radio network program called FBI This Week and through other viewer participation programs such as America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back.

The list is compiled from candidates submitted by the 56 FBI field offices throughout the United States. There are two main criteria to determine who should be placed on the list. First, the fugitive must be considered an extremely dangerous menace to society and/or have a long record of committing serious crimes. Second, the FBI must believe that the national publicity will assist in apprehending the fugitive. Often, individuals on the list are dangerous but not widely known by the general press and therefore not well-known to the general public.

Once a name has been submitted, it is reviewed by special agents in the Criminal Investigative Division (CID) and the Office of Public and Congressional Affairs. The selected candidates are submitted to the assistant director of the CID for his or her approval and then to the deputy director of the FBI for final approval. The name remains on the list unless the individual is captured, found dead, or surrenders; the process against them is dismissed by a court of law; or they no longer fit the Top 10 criteria. When a fugitive is removed from the list, another is selected to take the position. Occasionally, the list exceeds 10 names, which has occurred 11 times since its inception. An additional name may be added when there is a full list and another individual is sought immediately. For example, James Earl Ray, Martin Luther King's suspected killer, was added in the 1960s. On October 17, 1970, four additions were made to the list, bringing it to an all-time high of 16. It is important to note there is no ranking of names on the list, and they are all considered equal.

As of June 2002, there have been 475 individuals on the “10 Most Wanted Fugitives” list. Of these, 445 have been located, 145 of them as a direct result of citizen cooperation. Process was dismissed against 15 of the individuals on the list. Five fugitives were removed from the list because they no longer fit the list criteria. The average time a name is listed is 316 days. The longest a name has been listed is 6,800 days and counting, and the shortest time on the list was an amazing 2 hours. Austin Bryant was arrested just 2 hours after he was placed on the list on January 8, 1969. He was charged with killing two FBI agents in Washington, D.C.; bank robbery in Baltimore, Maryland; and escaping from prison, where he'd been serving time for robbery and assault.

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