On the Lam
A History of Hunting Fugitives in America
Jerry Clark author Ed Palattella author
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Rowman & Littlefield
Published:17th Sep '19
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
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 fugitives: 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.
This engrossing, detailed account from associate professor of criminal justice Clark and journalist Palattella follows the history of bail from Ancient Rome to the creation of the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI, organizations that have hunted fugitives since the 1930s. Despite the American public’s admiration for some outlaws—from Jesse James to Bonnie and Clyde and Robert Burns, who actually wrote I Am a Fugitive from a Georgia Chain Gang! while being a fugitive—people have been helpful in the capture of many of those on the lam, the authors note. Law enforcement agencies, which began crowdsourcing in the 1930s with the publication and posting of the FBI’s Most Wanted list, have used TV to appeal for information about fugitives (the show America’s Most Wanted, which ran from 1988 to 2012, resulted in the capture of 1,149 fugitives), and today, it’s the internet where the wanted are commonly hunted. Indeed, “head for the border” no longer guarantees freedom, as Eduardo Rodriguez learned when the LAPD used Facebook posts to track him down and capture him in Mexico. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of criminal justice. * Publishers Weekly *
On the Lam offers an insight into the government's ingenious and efficient strategies in the pursuit of fugitives. It is revelatory while outlining the interesting history of the federal agencies responsible to bring to justice criminals on the run. -- Daniel Simone, True Crime Writer and author of The Lufthansa Heist
On the Lam is a fascinating read; a great blend of substantive history and anecdote. The authors have done their homework, while offering a unique approach to the subject; and the result is a well-researched book that will appeal to many audiences. -- Sean Patrick Griffin, PhD, Professor of Criminal Justice and Department Head, The Citadel
ISBN: 9781442262584
Dimensions: 234mm x 160mm x 19mm
Weight: 472g
248 pages