Ohio Surety Bail Agent Practice Exam

In legal terms, a fugitive refers specifically to a person who is fleeing from justice, which often means they are evading law enforcement authorities after being charged with a crime or after a sentence has been imposed. This definition encompasses individuals who might have skipped bail, escaped custody, or failed to appear for a scheduled court date. The term emphasizes the act of evasion and the legal context of being pursued due to supposed wrongdoing.

The other choices do not accurately capture the essence of what constitutes a fugitive. A person who has been convicted may face legal actions but isn't inherently fleeing from justice unless they are also avoiding apprehension. A witness in a trial is someone who provides testimony and has no implication of flight from justice. Similarly, a person on probation is under a legal obligation to comply with certain conditions set by the court and is not necessarily fleeing from any consequences. Thus, the correct understanding of a fugitive is rooted in their active avoidance of justice-related processes.