What does NCIC categorize as "wanted persons"?

The category of "wanted persons" in the NCIC refers specifically to individuals who have active arrest warrants issued against them. This classification is crucial for law enforcement agencies, as it helps in identifying and apprehending individuals who are sought for crimes. An active arrest warrant indicates that judicial authorities have formally requested the individual’s apprehension due to suspected criminal activity, which necessitates law enforcement's priority in locating and detaining that individual.

In contrast, the other options do not meet the criteria set by NCIC for categorizing individuals as "wanted persons". Unpaid fines may indicate a civil issue rather than a criminal status, petty crimes may not necessarily result in an active warrant, and witnesses in criminal cases are not pursued as "wanted" since they are not fugitives or subjects of arrest. Thus, the definition focuses strictly on those with outstanding legal actions against them.