The FBI most wanted list is comprised of ten individuals who have met the criteria for being the "toughest guys that the Bureau want to capture" (a reporter for the International News Service questioned with this previous phrase).

The list was created on March 14th, 1950 under the former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover in order to receive help from the public to catch the listed wanted criminals.

According to the FBI's Most Wanted FAQ (frequently asked questions) page, The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) at FBI Headquarters calls 56 field offices for their candidates for the list.

These nominees are taken into consideration by Special Agents in the CID and the Office of Public Affairs. After being selected, these candidates are forwarded to the FBI Executive Management for the final approval.

There are only two guidelines that the proposed candidates would need to follow. One being that the referred individual must have an extensive record of serious crimes and have to be considered a dangerous individual to society. Another rule is that the fugitive can be apprehended with the help of nationwide publicity.

Currently, the list includes individuals that were charged for murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, and fleeing prosecution. However, throughout the years of the existence of this list, the criminal activity that met the criteria has very much changed.

In the 1950s, the list was mostly comprised of bank robbers, car thieves, and burglars. Then in the 1960s, it was the individuals who were wanted for destruction of Government property, sabotage, and kidnappings. After the 1970s, the FBI began putting emphasis on the criminals involved in organized crime and terrorism.

Ever since the creation of this list, 162 of the 521 fugitives that have been on the list were apprehended by the FBI due to public assistance and hopefully, even more, are found with the publication of this list.