| You have heard it in the movie Star Wars: The | | | | the state in which you plan to practice as a |
| Empire Strikes Back when Boba Fett, a bounty | | | | professional bounty hunter. Some states hold bail |
| hunter, arrested Han Solo and encased him in | | | | agents to varying standards of licensure and training. |
| carbonite leaving him in suspended animation. | | | | In California and Texas, for example, bounty hunters |
| Just exactly what is a bounty hunter? What do they | | | | must pass certain training courses and complete a |
| do? | | | | thorough background check. In Louisiana, the state |
| A bounty hunter (a.k.a. bail enforcement agent, bail | | | | requires their agents to wear clothing identifying |
| agent, bail officer, fugitive recovery officer, or bail | | | | them as bail agents. In Kentucky, it is illegal to bounty |
| fugitive recovery specialist) is a person who arrests | | | | hunt. The exception, however, is that a fugitive can |
| fugitives for compensation. In general, the "hunt" for | | | | be hunted down if he fled to Kentucky to avoid |
| a fugitive is made in order to recover a suspect who | | | | federal charges in another state. Most bounty |
| has failed to show up for a scheduled court date. | | | | hunters are not allowed to carry firearms unless they |
| The defendant's failure to appear in court allows the | | | | have proper permits to carry. |
| court to put out a bench warrant, or arrest warrant, | | | | Most bounty hunters are employed by bail bondsmen |
| on the defendant. At this time, the bail bondsman, | | | | and can operate legally in all 50 states except |
| the person who paid money to the court, or bail, for | | | | Kentucky. They have an obligation to the courts that |
| the defendant to get out of jail, can either forfeit | | | | the fugitives appear for trial. |
| that money or bring the defendant, now called a | | | | Bounty Hunters in Media |
| fugitive, back to court to stand trial. This is where | | | | If you are a big fan of Dog: The Bounty Hunter as I |
| the bounty hunter, who is hired by the bail | | | | am, you may have heard that Duane Chapman, the |
| bondsman, steps in to apprehend a fugitive. The | | | | show's host, pursued a fugitive, Andrew Luster, in |
| bounty hunter is the bail bondsman's way of making | | | | Mexico back in June 2003. In Mexico, Duane Chapman |
| sure that clients show up for court. | | | | himself got arrest by Mexican authorities because his |
| Most bounty hunters carry tools of the trade similar | | | | arrest of a fugitive is considered kidnapping under |
| to law enforcement personnel. Some of the tools | | | | their laws. |
| they carry include a badge, radio, bullet proof vest, | | | | Shortly after Chapman's release and return to the |
| firearm, handcuffs, pepper spray, Taser gun, or stun | | | | United States, a Mexican prosecutor declared |
| gun. | | | | Chapman and his "hunt" team fugitives from justice. |
| When recovering a fugitive from justice, bail | | | | In September 2006, just days before the statute of |
| enforcement agents have an advantage over law | | | | limitations was about to expire, fugitive recovery |
| enforcement personnel. When they come to arrest a | | | | specialists from the U.S. Marshals Service came to |
| fugitive, no warrant is required for bail agents to | | | | arrest Chapman and his team and jailed them in |
| enter his private property. They DO need a warrant | | | | Honolulu, Hawaii on behalf of Mexican authorities. |
| to re-arrest a fugitive. | | | | As of February 2007, Hawaii State Representatives |
| Do you want to become the next Boba Fett or | | | | have requested President Felipe Calderon of Mexico |
| Duane Chapman? | | | | to drop extradition charges against Chapman and his |
| In order to become a bail agent, you must consider | | | | team. |