FBI 10 Most Wanted Program - A Failure?

On this date in 1950 - the FBI began its 10 Most Wanted Program. Since its inception, of the people who have been featured in the 10 Most Wanted - only 147 have been captured. That's just more than 2.6 arrests per year. Color me unimpressed.

According to the History Channel website - as of May 1998, 454 fugitives had appeared on the FBI 10 Most Wanted List and I think as of May of 1998 only 130 had been captured. That's an arrest rate of just under 29%. With just 17 more arrests in the 101 months since May of 1998 (about one every 6 months) - the program's arrest rate seems to be dropping quickly and I have to wonder if you would have to call this program a failure.

Now my numbers may be wrong but I have to wonder if the FBI's 10 Most Wanted is more of a PR success than a criminal justice success. Seriously - consider that being named to the FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted List means that the chances of not going caught is more than double the chance of getting caught.