How to Become a Bounty Hunter
What Does a Bounty Hunter Do?
For many people, the term bounty hunter brings up images of vigilante mercenaries, working at the edge of the law bringing in the most wanted of criminals for large rewards. This is the bounty hunter of the popular imagination.
In real life, the bounty hunter has a very specific task. They execute warrants on those who have forfeited or skipped bail for the bail bonds industry. Rather than waste the time, money and energy of police authorities, bounty hunters (also known as bail enforcement agents or recovery agents) perform this service for a fee paid for by the bond issuing agency.
A bonds agent is an insurance agent. When they put up a bond in order to release a person, they are ensuring the court that the person they have bailed out will appear in court. If that person then fails to appear in court, it is the bonds agent who ends up paying the money for that bond. Otherwise the bond will be released at the time of either the conviction or acquittal of the defendant.
In order to defend their business, bonds agents hire bounty hunters to seek out those who seek to skip bail and bring them in to ensure they go to court. Otherwise these bail jumpers would have to be caught again by police authorities, and the bonds agent would be required to pay for the bond as they failed to bring their client in at the proper time.
Bounty hunting is a vital aspect of the bail bonds system in the United States, which in turn is an important part of the justice system as a whole. The bounty hunter, although often misunderstood and often disliked by police and other authorities, is an integral part of our American justice system.
Understanding the Law
If you are seriously considering undertaking a career as a bounty hunter, the first thing you must do is understand the law. As a bounty hunter you are walking a very thin line. On the one hand, you are a civilian, not a police officer or military man. However, you are working in apprehending criminals and bringing them to court, similar to any law enforcement officer.
In order to succeed as a bounty hunter, you must understand the laws applicable to the art of bounty hunting inside and out. There are many cases out there of bounty hunters acting outside of their limitations and ultimately being prosecuted by the police themselves on charges of kidnapping, felonious restraint, breaking and entering, etc.
As a bounty hunter it is sometimes legal for you to break into a suspect’s house. It is also legal under certain circumstances to restrain a person in whatever way you feel is best. However, when you perform such activities you must make sure that you are in full compliance with the laws of your particular state and city so as to avoid prosecution yourself.
Legality of Bounty Hunting
Aside from some of the other legal issues mentioned in brief above, you must also find out about the legality of bounty hunting in general in your state. Each state has different rules on bounty hunting, and some states have outlawed the practice of bounty hunting completely!
States Where Bounty Hunting is Illegal
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Oregon
- Wisconsin
Some states do allow bounty hunters, but outlaw freelance bounty hunting. Bounty hunters may only work as a licensed “runner” for a single bonds agent, rather than working for any bonds agent they choose at any time.
States Where Freelance Bounty Hunting is Illegal
- Florida
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
In some states special licensing is required, although once licensed you may work freelance and not be tied to a single bonds agent. The licensing process generally requires testing, specialized official training or a combination of the two.
States Requiring Bounty Hunter Licensing
- Arizona
- California
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- South Dakota
- Utah
- West Virginia
Other states which allow bounty hunting but do not have licensing or freelance restrictions may have other regulations involving bounty hunters. Whatever state you intend to work in, you must research the laws concerning bounty hunters in those states for yourself.
Other Legal Issues for Bounty Hunters
Aside from the legality of the practice itself, the potential bounty hunter must also look at other legal factors. For example, if the bounty hunter wishes to carry a weapon, one must understand the laws concerning the carrying of weapons. Just because you are a bounty hunter does not mean that you do not have to follow weapons laws like any other civilian.
One of the major legal issues for bounty hunters is what happens when a bail jumper crosses state borders. Is it legal in the state in which you are operating to cross state lines to apprehend the individual? Is it legal in the state which the fugitive has gone to to apprehend him and bring him back to the original state? What are the processes that you must take in order to do so legally?
Another important issue is the use of force and restraint. Remember that as a bounty hunter you are serving in a position similar to that of a law enforcement officer, and you are required to handle the suspect with all due process according to the law. Although the word bounty hunter might seem exotic and exciting, this is not the old west. You must act in accordance with the law in all respects.
Bounty Hunter Skills
Skip Tracing
Skip tracing is by far the most important skill required by a bounty hunter. Skip tracing is essentially the tracking of a missing person. In order to get anywhere at all in the world of bounty hunting, you must be able to actually find the fugitives which you are seeking.
Skip tracing is a very complicated art. It takes a lot of skill and ability to be able to find missing individuals in a timely manner in order to bring them into court, especially if the individual does not want to be found.
Skip tracing is an art taught in bounty hunter schools, and it is one of the most important things you will need to know in order to succeed in your career as a bounty hunter.
Defending Yourself
Bounty hunting is a potentially dangerous career. Fugitives do not wish to return to custody, and sometimes they can get violent when attempting to bring them in. If you are going to be a bounty hunter, you will have to know how to defend yourself.
Although many bounty hunters do carry weapons, you will have to be able to depend on more than just your weapons to protect you in a tight situation. Studying martial arts is a good way to give you the skills required to handle yourself if a fugitive becomes violent during an arrest.
Bounty Hunter Training
There are numerous bounty hunter training schools in the United States. Some of these are little more than scams, telling you they will teach you the secrets of bounty hunting while actually providing little to know training. Others are true, legitimate courses that will teach you the basics of bounty hunting and provide you with a solid basis to begin your career.
There are some states that require an individual wishing to become a bounty hunter to undertake an official training program, which must last for a certain number of hours. You should research the rules in your own state to find out if bounty hunter training is required in your state.
Even if not required, it is highly recommended to receive training before seeking to become a bounty hunter. Unless you are an experienced private investigator or law enforcement officer, it is unlikely that you will be in possession of all of the skills necessary to succeed as a bounty hunter without first undertaking proper training.
When seeking a bounty hunter training school, do your research carefully. For example, there are many resources on the Internet offering bounty hunter training, however not all of these are legit. Look into the courses offered closely, and make sure that you know what you are getting into.
Finding Work as a Bounty Hunter
Another thing to consider before embarking on a career as a bounty hunter is: how will you find work? As a freelance bounty hunter you are running your own business, and you must make sure that you have the business skills required to find contracts in order to work.
After all, a bounty hunter without bounties is not much of a hunter at all. Perhaps you have the investigative abilities of Sherlock Holmes and are able to find fugitives in almost no time at all and bring them to justice. However, if you do not have a strong business sense and the ability to win contracts with bonds agents, you are going to find your bounty hunting business floundering.
In order to succeed in the world of bounty hunting, you must not only understand the laws involved, and be skilled in skip tracing and the apprehension of fugitives, you must also be skilled in the ways of business and be able to win contracts for your business.
