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On the Lam: A History of Hunting Fugitives in America
Fugitives occupy a unique place in the American criminal justice system. They can run and they can hide, but eventually each chase ends. And, in many cases, history is made along the way.
John Dillinger’s capture obsessed J. Edgar Hoover and helped create the modern FBI. Violent student radicals who went on the lam in the 1960s reflected the turbulence of the era. The sixteen-year disappearance and sudden arrest of gangster James “Whitey” Bulger in 2011 captivated the nation. Fugitives have become iconic characters in American culture even as they have threatened public safety and the smooth operation of the justice system. They are always on the run, always trying to stay out of reach of the long arm of the law. Also prominent are the men and women who chase FBI agents, federal marshals and their deputies, police officers, and bounty hunters.
A significant element of the justice system is dedicated to finding those on the run, and the most-wanted posters and true-crime television shows have made fugitives seemingly ubiquitous figures of fear and fascination for the public. In On the Lam, Jerry Clark and Ed Palattella trace the history of fugitives in the United States by looking at the characters – real and fictional – who have played the roles of the hunter and the hunted. They also examine the origins of the bail system and other legal tools, such as most-wanted programs, that are designed to guard against flight.
John Dillinger’s capture obsessed J. Edgar Hoover and helped create the modern FBI. Violent student radicals who went on the lam in the 1960s reflected the turbulence of the era. The sixteen-year disappearance and sudden arrest of gangster James “Whitey” Bulger in 2011 captivated the nation. Fugitives have become iconic characters in American culture even as they have threatened public safety and the smooth operation of the justice system. They are always on the run, always trying to stay out of reach of the long arm of the law. Also prominent are the men and women who chase FBI agents, federal marshals and their deputies, police officers, and bounty hunters.
A significant element of the justice system is dedicated to finding those on the run, and the most-wanted posters and true-crime television shows have made fugitives seemingly ubiquitous figures of fear and fascination for the public. In On the Lam, Jerry Clark and Ed Palattella trace the history of fugitives in the United States by looking at the characters – real and fictional – who have played the roles of the hunter and the hunted. They also examine the origins of the bail system and other legal tools, such as most-wanted programs, that are designed to guard against flight.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published September 17, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 5, 2019
The concept of this book is to look at how we have dealt with people who have been convicted of committing a crime and left the community before they could be imprisoned or had escaped from incarceration. We took our laws from those that developed over the years in England. When we broke away from the motherland, we had to decide how to revise rules created under a monarchy.
The main body of this book reflects on how you 'hold' someone while awaiting judgement in a court. Most people understand that bail is a way of financially people to ensure they show up at court. But when the accused decides to 'jump' bail and 'light out to places unknown', how do you bring them back for judgement? Under the old English rules, a Sheriff would be responsible for an area (usually a county or shire) to track down miscreants. In a time where strangers stood out like a 'sore' thumb, it wasn't that hard to pick out those who didn't belong.
The idea of a Sheriff (or someone of this style) was transported to the United Colonies/States. There were also appointed US Marshalls, who were empowered to capture escapees and criminals.
As America grew with the railroad, it became easier for criminals to hide from justice by changing their name and moving to a different state. Wanted posters with rewards was one way to inform the populace to be on the look out for so-and-so.
Justice was always a step behind the 'bad guys'. They learned how to hide in plain site and to do their activities in one area and live in another. The automobile gave criminals the ultimate getaway from where they were wanted. Over the years, agencies like the FBI, ATF, DEA, State Police were created to help the law deal with malefactors who worked in multiple jurisdictions.
That's the body of this book. Mostly it's very cogent and explains the law and changes to personal rights very well. My only complaint would be about his description of the FBI. Hoover wasn't some one who cared much about the law, Hoover just wanted to be praised and to get the bad guy. The FBI was notorious for creating evidence or placing criminals in situations where violence was the only answer. He never gave credit to an Special Agent, when he could take it for himself.
The main body of this book reflects on how you 'hold' someone while awaiting judgement in a court. Most people understand that bail is a way of financially people to ensure they show up at court. But when the accused decides to 'jump' bail and 'light out to places unknown', how do you bring them back for judgement? Under the old English rules, a Sheriff would be responsible for an area (usually a county or shire) to track down miscreants. In a time where strangers stood out like a 'sore' thumb, it wasn't that hard to pick out those who didn't belong.
The idea of a Sheriff (or someone of this style) was transported to the United Colonies/States. There were also appointed US Marshalls, who were empowered to capture escapees and criminals.
As America grew with the railroad, it became easier for criminals to hide from justice by changing their name and moving to a different state. Wanted posters with rewards was one way to inform the populace to be on the look out for so-and-so.
Justice was always a step behind the 'bad guys'. They learned how to hide in plain site and to do their activities in one area and live in another. The automobile gave criminals the ultimate getaway from where they were wanted. Over the years, agencies like the FBI, ATF, DEA, State Police were created to help the law deal with malefactors who worked in multiple jurisdictions.
That's the body of this book. Mostly it's very cogent and explains the law and changes to personal rights very well. My only complaint would be about his description of the FBI. Hoover wasn't some one who cared much about the law, Hoover just wanted to be praised and to get the bad guy. The FBI was notorious for creating evidence or placing criminals in situations where violence was the only answer. He never gave credit to an Special Agent, when he could take it for himself.
May 20, 2024
An interesting recap of the work by the FBI and US Marshals as they searched for the most notorious fugitives in the US. A little text book like in its approach and some trite wording, so I would have made it 3.5 if that was an option. It’s better than a 3.
July 8, 2019
As far as nonfiction books go...this one is a must read! If you are interested in law enforcement, history or just interesting American stories, this book is a good one for you. I learned a lot about famous criminal manhunts throughout history and also learned about some new ones I had never heard of. A wonderfully interesting and informative red!
September 22, 2019
The author's painstaking research and attention to detail is obvious in the writing of this book. There were many facts that I only discovered after reading this!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews