What is a Bounty Hunter?
A bounty hunter is an individual who captures fugitives from the law. Usually, the fugitive is someone who “skipped” bail. In other words, they escaped jail by posting bail money but didn’t appear in court as promised.
Bail bondsmen employ most bounty hunters to track down and apprehend the fugitive, they are paid a portion of the bail that the fugitive initially paid. If the fugitive eludes bail, the bondsman is ultimately responsible for the remainder.
The arrangement is the bail bondsman’s way of ensuring their clients appear in court as promised. In the United States, they catch an estimated 31,500 bail jumpers per year, about 90% of people who jump bail.
Bounty hunters are sometimes known as “bail enforcement agents/officers” or “fugitive recovery agents/officers,” the preferred industry titles. However, in most cases, they are referred to as simply bounty hunters.
Bounty Hunter Training and Education
Fugitive Recovery Agents must be skilled in several things, including skip tracing. Skip tracing involves researching a subject to determine its possible location. Methods might include searching paid and public records databases for the last known address. In addition, it consists of contacting family members and known associates. Also, social media investigations can help identify the last known location, friends, and relatives.
Firearms – Rarely does a person on the run from the law want to be caught. Some people would rather go down shooting than face justice or possibly return to jail. As a result, bounty hunting is a hazardous business. Most agents carry firearms as protection.
Self-Defense—Many fugitive recoveries involve the use of physical force. Agents need to be skilled in basic self-defense and have the strength to take down and hold someone who doesn’t want to be captured. They need ongoing development and practice in this area.
On-the-Job Training – Most training and education agents will be on the job or “in the field.” Agents should work with bail bondsmen or experienced recovery agents to understand the intricacies of the job. Examples of training include fugitive takedown, transport, working with bail bond agents, and more.
Bounty Hunter Laws and Regulations
In the United States of America, bounty hunters have varying levels of authority in their duties concerning their targets, depending on the states in which they operate.
Four states—Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, and Wisconsin—prohibit bail bonding and bounty hunting. In addition, Nebraska and Maine prohibit bail bonds.
RELATED: Dog the Bounty Hunter TV Series
Recommended Websites
The following is a list of websites that Private Investigators can use to find information about Bounty Hunters and wanted fugitives. The information available on these sites includes training information, resources for bounty hunters, fugitive listings, and most-wanted lists.
- National Association of Bail Enforcement Agents
- National Association of Fugitive Recovery Agents (NAFRA)
- Fugitive Watch—Fugitive Watch was founded by two Bay Area police officers and is a reality television show, newspaper, and website. It features exciting stories on crimes and fugitives. Fugitive Watch has been credited with thousands of captures and solved crimes. The show combines law enforcement work, local businesses, and the community into an effective crime-fighting tool.
eInvestigator Private Investigator Directory
To hire a private investigator specializing in bounty hunting, please visit our Private Investigator Directory.
Questions and Comments
If you have any questions about these bounty hunter resources, please post a comment below.
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