Are so-called "bounty hunters", legitimate, legal occupations?

Jim B

Of all the countries in the world, ONLY the USA allows this kind of quasi legal type of work .

It goes back to the 1860's when the wild west was really WILD.

In the modern era, bounty hunters fall into two groups. The first group work directly for bail bonds companies, to trace and capture "bail skips " who have not appeared for their court date. The bail bond company stands to lose the bail money if the skip is not found and taken back to jail, to be seen in court later. This what Dog does.

The second type of bounty hunter does a much more dangerous type of recovery, as they are going after "wanted criminals " that have a reward offered for their capture, usually by a state or the Federal Government. To do this requires courage and better than average investigative skills, plus the balls to kick down doors and risk being killed while doing it .

So who does this kind of work in the USA ? Ex-military , ex Police, and risk takers of all kinds. It requires a backer with a good deal of money, to finance the operation, and provide the needed vehicles, equipment and cash to be able to pay the operatives to do the work.

The most important part of the team will be the person who does the tracing, to find the current location of the "wanted person ". Remember that bounty hunters in this field are competing with law enforcement agencies, who have more resources and manpower. The private bounty hunters have to get there first, to claim the money for the reward.

The US Federal laws allow the bounty hunters, who are working a reward case to do many things that in other countries would be strictly illegal, such as breaking into a house without a warrant, and arresting the wanted person. They are also allowed to take the person across state lines to get them to the place where the reward is being offered. They operate with very little oversight and control, and in many cases, they act illegally and get caught doing so.

My advice is to do some more research in your home state, by looking up bailbonds men in the phone book and calling to ask them about the business of reward bounty hunting, and who they know that does it , in that state.

With the huge numbers of "wanted persons " in the USA, this is a growth industry, but one that can get you killed, as easy as anything.

Jim B. Toronto. Ontario. Canada.

Ryn Leigh

Unfortunately, there are a few bad bail enforcement agents who give the rest of the profession a bad rap.

Enforcement agents, more commonly known as bounty hunters, find people who skipped their court date and arrest them so they can appear for their court date. They are hired and paid by bail bondsmen who risk losing thousands and thousands of dollars in bail if the defendant does not show up for their court date.

Often times, all an enforcement agent has to do is knock on a person's door and escort them back to the jail so they can show up for their court date. Many enforcement agents only arm themselves with pepper spray and a taser on occasion.

Despite rumors of extravagant incomes and glamorous lifestyles, enforcement agents usually make between $30,000 and $40,000 a year, and many work a second job, sometimes as bail bondsmen, to support themselves and their family. They only get paid if they actually find a skip and bring them back for their court date.

In several states, there is no private bail, which means there are no bounty hunters. Unfortunately, the police force is spread so thin already that in states with no private bail (meaning there is no one to pay the bounty hunter) there is little recourse to find a fugitive who misses their court date. In these states, there are far more fugitives than in states that have bail enforcement agents. This means there are potentially guilty people who are not facing the consequences of breaking the law.

Professional, licensed bail enforcement agents are necessary in the US criminal justice system. Pretrial release is just not as effective. Due to shows like Dog the Bounty Hunter, enforcement agents are given a bad rap. In actuality, the world is a safer place because of enforcement agents.

Texas Star

Only a hand full of states allow bounty hunters.

Secondly, it's is mostly 'cowboys' and many times other criminals who are working off monies owed to the bondsman.

Third, it's not what you would call an 'honorable' profession.

Fourth, anyone who tries to 'train' you to be a bounty hunter is a con man. Just a way to get money from unsuspecting people.

Fifth, law enforcement officers, in general, have a dislike of 'bounty hunters' as they are usually outside the norms of society and somewhat 'over the edge' legally.

Lord Percy

in the usa only yes
its based on one court ruling
yes they can make huge money however you have to find teh guys and thats hard
Dog went to canada to retrieve a runner and was extradited for kidnapping to canada
Up until about 1998 you didn't have to be licensed, just about anywhere in the country. The right to re-arrest a defendant was given by a famous United States Supreme Court decision back in 1872. Lately laws have been continually changing and in some states you are required to have a license. Most states have recently enacted some sort of legislation that ranges from required training and/or required licensing

Andy G {Join The Resistance}

Only in the United States, and each state has their own definition of what constitutes bounty hunting. While it is a legal profession, I don't like bounty hunters since they are NOT law enforcement agents. They are private goons with guns that go after people and can harass anyone who they think is involved with a bail jumper.

Bounty Hunting can be a lucrative business, but also a dangerous one both physically and legally. While some states do offer some immunity to bounty hunters who carry out their "duties'. They are not immune from civil suits like law enforcement agents. That means that the person being hunted or anyone involved can sue the bounty hunter or the bail company for damages and in most cases they have won.

Here is the link to the news section of the National Association of Bail Enforcement Agents. It includes an article in which Dog The Bounty Hunter is being sued.

http://www.nabea.org/news/news.htm

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: