ByABC News 
Aug. 7 -- Roy Ratliff, a wanted man with a criminal past, was accused of raping a 19-year-old relative last year, yet he was free to kidnap two teenage girls at gunpoint just last week.
The details of his final crime and its dramatic ending may seem unique, but the circ*mstances that allowed it to occur are not.
Thousands of criminals, many violent, remain on the lam despite outstanding felony warrants for their arrests.
A warrant for Ratliff's arrest on five counts of sexual assault had been issued in October 2001, three months after he was paroled, yet he was never apprehended. Over the last 13 years, he had been convicted three times on felony charges, including burglary and drug charges.
Ratliff was shot dead by police last week when he refused to surrender after police found him with the two teens he had kidnapped 12 hours earlier from a lovers' lane in Lancaster, Calif.
According to the FBI's National Crime Information Center, which police use for background checks on suspects, there are more than 789,000 outstanding warrants for felonies and serious misdemeanors filed in their system, but the actual number of warrants in the United States is actually much higher.
In California alone, there are 252,000 outstanding felony warrants, according to the office of the state attorney general. Of these warrants, approximately 2,800 are for homicide, 640 are for kidnapping, and 1,800 are for sexual assault suspects.
In Florida, the total number of outstanding warrants, both felony and misdemeanor, is 325,000, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. There are 898 homicide warrants, 273 kidnapping warrants and 565 sexual assault warrants outstanding.
A large percentage of outstanding warrants are never entered by states because they are not required to file their warrants into the FBI's national system.
Attorney General John Ashcroft told ABCNEWS' Good Morning America Tuesday that the FBI's national system is helpful to law enforcement officials around the country, despite its shortcomings.
I'm no stranger to the intricacies of criminal justice, and the article you provided touches upon a critical issue in the system. Now, let's break down the key concepts involved:
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Roy Ratliff's Criminal Background:
- He was accused of raping a 19-year-old relative.
- Despite a warrant for his arrest on five counts of sexual assault issued in October 2001, he remained free.
- Ratliff had a criminal past, with three prior convictions on felony charges, including burglary and drug charges.
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Kidnapping Incident:
- Ratliff kidnapped two teenage girls at gunpoint from a lovers' lane in Lancaster, Calif.
- The police shot him dead when he refused to surrender.
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Widespread Issue of Outstanding Warrants:
- The article highlights that thousands of criminals, including many violent offenders, are on the run despite outstanding felony warrants.
- The FBI's National Crime Information Center reports over 789,000 outstanding warrants for felonies and serious misdemeanors in their system.
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State-Specific Statistics:
- In California, there are 252,000 outstanding felony warrants, with specific numbers for various crimes like homicide, kidnapping, and sexual assault.
- Florida has a total of 325,000 outstanding warrants, including 898 for homicide, 273 for kidnapping, and 565 for sexual assault.
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Limitations of the FBI's National System:
- The article mentions that the actual number of warrants in the United States is higher than the reported 789,000 due to some states not filing their warrants into the FBI's national system.
- Despite its shortcomings, Attorney General John Ashcroft asserts the FBI's national system's overall usefulness to law enforcement officials.
This paints a troubling picture of gaps in the criminal justice system, with criminals slipping through the cracks despite warrants for their arrest. Addressing these issues and improving coordination between law enforcement agencies is crucial for public safety.
