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Legal Definitions - fugitive
Definition of fugitive
Fugitive
A fugitive is an individual who avoids legal processes or obligations by fleeing, hiding, or escaping from the authorities. This term most commonly refers to someone who is wanted by law enforcement for a crime, or who is legally required to appear in court (either as a defendant or a witness) but deliberately evades capture or appearance.
Example 1: After being charged with embezzlement, a former company executive sold their assets and secretly moved to another country to avoid facing trial. They are now considered a fugitive from justice, as they have deliberately fled the jurisdiction to escape prosecution.
Example 2: A person convicted of a serious felony managed to escape from a maximum-security prison. Law enforcement agencies across the country immediately launched a manhunt, identifying the escapee as a fugitive. This illustrates the term as someone who has escaped imprisonment and is now on the run.
Example 3: A crucial witness to a violent crime was subpoenaed to testify in court. However, on the day of the trial, the witness could not be found and had seemingly disappeared, intentionally avoiding the legal obligation to provide testimony. In this scenario, the witness would be considered a fugitive from the legal process, specifically evading their duty to appear in court.
Simple Definition
A fugitive is a person who flees or escapes. Legally, it refers to an individual, such as a criminal suspect or witness, who evades arrest, prosecution, imprisonment, or the giving of testimony, often by leaving the jurisdiction or hiding.