Bail Enforcement Agent

• A bounty hunter, or bail enforcement agent, is an individual who is hired by a bail bondsman to capture and return a fugitive to the authorities. Before a bounty hunter is called into action, an individual has been arrested and ordered by the court to pay a bond. If that individual is unable to pay the bond, he or she may request the services of a bondsman. A bondsman is a person who provides a bond or surety to the court that the individual will appear in court. When that person fails to appear, the bondsman then becomes responsible for paying the bond. The bondsman can then choose to hire a bounty hunter to capture the fleeing individual.
  
  

Rights & Restrictions

• The bounty hunter has fewer restrictions than a standard police office. When the fleeing individual signs an agreement with the bail bondsman, he waives his constitutional rights, agreeing to being hunted by a bail enforcement agent. The bounty hunter does not require a warrant for arrest and does not have to announce his presence on private property. Furthermore, the bounty hunter does not have to read Miranda rights while making an arrest. Still, the enforcement agent must not enter a home of the fugitive's family or friends and cannot cross international borders.
  
  

Licensing

• States vary on their requirements of bail enforcement agents. Some states require bounty hunters to obtain licensing and certifications. Depending on the requirements, the state provides a list of authorized establishments and training facilities that can provide the required licensing. Bail enforcement agents are required to obtain applicable gun permits if they intend on carrying a weapon.
  
  

State Exceptions

• Bounty hunters are not permitted to make arrests in Kentucky, Illinois and Oregon. These states require the local police officials to complete the arrest of the fugitive. The bounty hunter is required to obtain the captured individual from police custody. Though these states permit police arrests only, these states promote police-enforcement cooperation to ensure the capture of fugitives in their area.
  
  

The Reimbursement

• Bail enforcement agents spend many hours on the job. The average enforcement agent works between 80 and 100 hours per week. The agent's time is spent not only chasing individuals and making arrests but also analyzing information and completing paperwork. An agent's compensation averages 15 to 20 percent of the total bail bond. The agent is only paid if he captures and safely returns the fugitive. The fugitive must be alive and cannot be subject to unprofessional injury.