A fugitive is a person who is fleeing from custody, whether it be from a government arrest, government or non-government questioning, vigilante violence, or outraged private individuals. As a verbal metaphor and psychological concept, one might also be described as a "fugitive from oneself." Finally, the literary sense of "fugitive" includes the meaning of simply "fleeting."

Interpol is the international authority for the pursuit of trans-border fugitives. In the United States, the Marshals Service is the primary law enforcement agency that tracks down federal fugitives, though the Federal Bureau of Investigation also hunts fugitives.

For what may be considered obvious reasons, fugitives generally avoid contact with individuals from their home country. However, they might spend much time on the Internet to fulfill the basic daily need for conversation, especially if they are unable to communicate well with the people in their new country. Popular fugitive havens include relatively lawless areas of Brazil, South Africa, Southeast Asia, India, and the anonymous world cities of New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo.

References

See also

• Bounty hunter
• Outlaws

Crime | People | Law enforcement