Bail Enforcers/Bounty Hunters

[HCountyGuy]

I'm curious to hear from current or former Bail Enforcement Agents/Bounty Hunters as to their experiences and overall viewpoints in this particular career field.

Yesterday while waiting for a lane at the range I happened to start chatting with a gentleman who was former NYPD, former local officer and now works as a bounty hunter and enjoys it. I started researching it and found information on getting registered into it, but wanted to hear from those who have done it for a better understanding.

Pros?
Cons?
Advice on getting started?

Any information is greatly appreciated!

Figured it could be an interesting pursuit while I continually fill out applications for LE departments of interest.

[Hambo]

I only dealt with them when they screwed up and needed bailed out of bad situations. So I'd list needing the SWAT team as a con.

[Dr. No]

My interactions go from good to bad. There's one in particular who is a high school friend of one of my teammates. He's a good dude, and does his own surveillance. If the person doesn't come out or he can't go in, he'll call us for help. He doesn't dress like a wanna-be cop, doesn't drive a crown vic with lights.

On the other hand, I've dealt with a handful of others that are the exact opposite of the above. They have garbage intel, dress like 80's SWAT officers, and just scream wannabe. They are awful.

As a whole, bounty hunters have a terrible reputation. If you really want to get into LE, I'd suggest just being patient or go work in a county jail while you wait.

[secondstoryguy]

Most are just above repo men on the d-bag scale. They usually get themselves into bad situations and call others to help out. While I love putting handcuffs on bad guys their timing and communication with LEO is often horrible. They often give us(who are perpetually short staffed) no warning and expect us to drop everything so they can make a buck.

[Chance]

This happened (https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?16840-Bounty-Hunters-Attempt-to-Arrest-Phoenix-s-Chief-of-Police) a few years ago. Based on the comments there, it seems most bounty hunters aren't that great.

[Arbninftry]

My house would not be a baton, and underwear would be a bonus. The headline would read Bounty hunters apprehended by naked ex cop with assault rifle and wearing a Viking helmet......:cool:

I am in Arizona right now and the video from the news last night was almost comical as to how bad it was.

This about sums it up.

As I am staring at my Viking helmet, I laughed at Dagga a Boys comment.

[HCountyGuy]

Haha, well after reading some of this it may not be the greatest field to look at.

I had an acquaintance from high school who did it, but lost contact with him to be able to pick his brain. But then again he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed.

[HCM]

My interactions with them have ranged from OK to "wannabe" to arresting one for 1) kidnapping a woman who was not on bond and 2) impersonating a federal agent. The same guy was already a convicted felon for insurance fraud and attempting to bring a loaded Glock 23 onto a commercial aircraft.

I would second Dr. No's recommendation to try working as a detention officer in a city or county jail. Many large Sheriffs offices require all their deputies to start in the jail for a reason.

[El Cid]

Looks like EGL may have spotted a bounty hunter in the wild...

http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz209/El_CidAF_ResQ/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_0819_zpsf85iulc5.jpg

[Robert Mitchum]

Did some Bounty Hunter work in the late 1980's.
I worked with 2 other guys .. David Schultz was the boss .. ex professional wrestler.
A friend from the DOC got me into it part time .. I would not want to do it full time.... but it was ok for extra money back than.
Like any job you have good Bounty Hunters and bad ones .. just like Cops some are real dick heads who think there shits don't stink.
But most are good guys .. not fair to label all Bounty Hunters just like labeling all Cops.

[HCM]

Did some Bounty Hunter work in the late 1980's.
I worked with 2 other guys .. David Schultz was the boss .. ex professional wrestler.
A friend from the DOC got me into it part time .. I would not want to do it full time.... but it was ok for extra money back than.
Like any job you have good Bounty Hunters and bad ones .. just like Cops some are real dick heads who think there shits don't stink.
But most are good guys .. not fair to label all Bounty Hunters just like labeling all Cops.

Varies state to state and bond company to bond company.

Some states require training and licensing for bail enforcement agents and some are a complete free for all.

[Robert Mitchum]

[QUOTE=HCM;557944]Varies state to state and bond company to bond company.


I can only give my experience on the subject back in the 80's.
When I did it the 2 guys I worked with where solid dude's .. I never told anyone at the time what I was doing or dressed up like a clown.
We did not walk around wearing stupid shit like the guy someone posted .
We went to bad sections of City's and kicked in a few doors .... not to brag put we had balls and could backup our actions.
Sorry for the rant but I was proud of the work I did and the guys I worked with.

[DMF13]

I'm sure there are some bounty hunters who try to be professional, and are more than just thugs trying to scrape up some money.

However, the vast majority of bounty hunters do have at the least a "shady past," and often have an extensive criminal history themselves.

I will say this, a friend of mine once worked with a bounty hunter to catch several criminals. That bounty hunter was what we call a "cooperating defendant." He provided information on his criminal associates as part of a deal to reduce his own jail time. ;)

Here is a simple checklist that most bounty hunters seem to follow to get into the business:

1- Apply to several LE agencies, and find out you don't qualify.
2- Decide since LE is too difficult to get into, you will try to be a fireman, only to find out it's just as difficult to get in, if not more so.
3- Start applying for corrections jobs only to realize, again, that requirements are too tough.
(ALTERNATE: get hired for a job in phase 1,2, or 3, only to get fired, then skip to step 6)
4- Look into becoming a PI until you realize that most states have enough licensing requirements that you don't qualify.
5- Become a bouncer while reading all the crap you can on bounty hunters.
6- Take some "training" from another bounty hunter that will hopefully make you contacts that will get you some work.

[HCM]

[QUOTE=HCM;557944]Varies state to state and bond company to bond company.


I can only give my experience on the subject back in the 80's.
When I did it the 2 guys I worked with where solid dude's .. I never told anyone at the time what I was doing or dressed up like a clown.
We did not walk around wearing stupid shit like the guy someone posted .
We went to bad sections of City's and kicked in a few doors .... not to brag put we had balls and could backup our actions.
Sorry for the rant but I was proud of the work I did and the guys I worked with.

Most agencies today would not let you moonlight as a bounty hunter - If only because it's seen as conflict of interest.

They provide a useful function but I don't see why they should not meet training and licensing standards for PIs or armed security guards?

[Robert Mitchum]

[QUOTE=Robert Mitchum;557951]

Most agencies today would not let you moonlight as a bounty hunter - If only because it's seen as conflict of interest.

They provide a useful function but I don't see why they should not meet training and licensing standards for PIs or armed security guards?

I guess times have changed ..
I also did some pro Wrestling and personal body guard work .. I did not tell the DOC what my every move was in my personal life.
I had a ton of paid days off as a CO and did other things to make extra money.. I have letters of Commendation as a CO ... not everyone is a clown working Corrections.
I was lifting weights and fighting in Martial Arts tournaments before it was popular like it is now ... I was doing it back in the 70's and still do it now.

My last post on this subject .,.... I am starting to sound like an old out of date guy...

I totally agree with this ... "but I don't see why they should not meet training and licensing standards for PIs or armed security guards?"
Like I said my answer was based on my experience ... had no clue what goes on now and who is your modern day Bounty Hunter in the USA.

[Duelist]

people really do this? It's not just Colt Seevers and Dog? I thought those were just tv shows...

[Duelist]

Looks like EGL may have spotted a bounty hunter in the wild...

http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz209/El_CidAF_ResQ/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_0819_zpsf85iulc5.jpg

Nah, dude, that's just Steve. You know, Steve, right? He was just on his way home from the zombie killin' match. He don't dress like that every day. I mean, come on! Two swords and a tanto? He'd have to be nuts. Or a samurai, or maybe a freaking ninja.

[TGS]

I'm sure there are some bounty hunters who try to be professional, and are more than just thugs trying to scrape up some money.

However, the vast majority of bounty hunters do have at the least a "shady past," and often have an extensive criminal history themselves.

I will say this, a friend of mine once worked with a bounty hunter to catch several criminals. That bounty hunter was what we call a "cooperating defendant." He provided information on his criminal associates as part of a deal to reduce his own jail time. ;)

Here is a simple checklist that most bounty hunters seem to follow to get into the business:

1- Apply to several LE agencies, and find out you don't qualify.
2- Decide since LE is too difficult to get into, you will try to be a fireman, only to find out it's just as difficult to get in, if not more so.
3- Start applying for corrections jobs only to realize, again, that requirements are too tough.
(ALTERNATE: get hired for a job in phase 1,2, or 3, only to get fired, then skip to step 6)
4- Look into becoming a PI until you realize that most states have enough licensing requirements that you don't qualify.
5- Become a bouncer while reading all the crap you can on bounty hunters.
6- Take some "training" from another bounty hunter that will hopefully make you contacts that will get you some work.

No shit, there's a movie on Netflix right now called "Life After Porn" and one of the people they follow is a porn star turned bounty hunter.

[RevolverRob]

Most are just above repo men on the d-bag scale.

Seriously? Repo men are doing a legitimate job. It's not their fault if someone doesn't pay their car payment and they have to go steal it back. And yea - they can be total D-Bags. But so are the people trying to hide cars in locked parking lots or garages. Hiding their cars at their neighbors' or brothers' houses or in fucking steel storage containers in an abandoned lot. All to basically steal the car.

Signed,

-A Guy Who Briefly Worked as Professional Car Thief/AKA Repo Man.

[Peally]

people really do this? It's not just Colt Seevers and Dog? I thought those were just tv shows...

You doubt the DOG???

But yes, people actually do it. It's a shame it has such a full-retard reputation, the concept is fairly interesting for a side career.

[txdpd]

Pros?
None

Cons?
If you want to get hired by a decent law enforcement agency, having bail enforcement/bounty hunting on your resume is a really good way to make sure that doesn't happen.

There is shortage of police applicants nationwide right now. No one can hire people off the streets to be cops. If you want to start a job in law enforcement, be patient. Unless you have: disqualifying convictions, recently used drugs or admit to engaging in criminal activity in last few years, someone will give you a job. Hiring standards are in the toilet and only going to get worse. If you want to get in law enforcement the world is your oyster, agencies are short on bodies and don't get to be particularly picky at the moment.

Don't fuck it before you get started trying to be a wanna be cop.

Edited: Not to offend any of the decent bounty hunters out there, but it takes one incident or just being associated with the wrong guy/crew and it's all over.

[jondoe297]

Like any job you have good Bounty Hunters and bad ones .. just like Cops some are real dick heads who think there shits don't stink.
But most are good guys .. not fair to label all Bounty Hunters just like labeling all Cops.

That is an absolutely valid point, however I would argue that the good-to-bad ratios are drastically different in the two fields.

My interactions with "Bail Enforcement Agents" have generally been limited to "We know he's in there, can you go get him for us?" scenarios.

Nope.

[NEPAKevin]

Slight thread drift, When did they go back to being called bounty hunters, as opposed to trying to appear more PC by calling them selves skip tracers?

[HCM]

Slight thread drift, When did they go back to being called bounty hunters, as opposed to trying to appear more PC by calling them selves skip tracers?

There is no one standard - some still use bounty hunter, skip tracer is kind of dated too.

The preferred term is bail enforcement agent or fugitive recovery agent. Since their legal authority to operate derives from their acting as the legal agent of the bail bondsman the use of "agent" is technically correct.

[Erik]

No shit, there's a movie on Netflix right now called "Life After Porn" and one of the people they follow is a porn star turned bounty hunter.

That guy is my new hero.

[Coyotesfan97]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[fishing]

That guy is my new hero.

It is a she...

(Source - Have been bounty hunted by her).

[Sherman A. House DDS]

There is no one standard - some still use bounty hunter, skip tracer is kind of dated too.

The preferred term is bail enforcement agent or fugitive recovery agent. Since their legal authority to operate derives from their acting as the legal agent of the bail bondsman the use of "agent" is technically correct.

The statute that applies to the profession varies by state. Here, in Tennessee, they are called, "Bounty Hunters." Professional licensing is required here, along with annual recertification and a continuing education requirement. There are goofballs here too, but I know several bondsmen and hunters that are retired LEO's.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Erik]

It is a she...

(Source - Have been bounty hunted by her).

Bestill my beating heart...or my throbbing whatever.

[fishing]

why should bounty hunting even exist in the US anymore?

[NEPAKevin]

Tiffany Million
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiffany_Million)

Tiffany Million
<snip>
As Sandra Scott, she was the subject of the 2007 reality show, Wife, Mom, Bounty Hunter, which aired on WE: Women's Entertainment for one season. She also appeared as herself in the 2010 documentary film After Porn Ends.

[fishing]

Tiffany Million
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiffany_Million)



http://markom.watoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Tiffany-Million-blog-Don-Marko-M.jpg

ugh.

i'll ask this thread again, why does bounty hunting exist in 2017 USA?

[Erik]

Well, shit. REALLY sorry for the thread drift.

[HCM]

why should bounty hunting even exist in the US anymore?

Because despite all the goofballs, it is an efficient system. Have to prioritize limited jail space and encourage court appearance via bail bonds. No bondsman, no one can afford to make bail. No bounty hunters etc - all the bondsman go out of business.

You can sit in jail or post your own bail in cash. Most people don't want to sit in jail and most don't have thousands in cash laying around. Plan C is contract with a bail bondsman for him to post your bail.

The bailee pays a non refundable fee and enters into a contract with the Bondsman. The bondman then posts the bail amount with the court via a promissory note issued by the bond company to guarantee the bailee's appearance. The bailee agrees to maintain contact with the bondsman and appear as required by the court. The bailee also agrees to being arrested by the bondsman or his agents if the bailee fails to appear as required.

If the bailee fails to appear in court they are in breach of contract and the bondsman or his agents are legally authorized to recover the fugitive and bring them in to court (usually via jail) to ensure the bondsman is in compliance with his contract with the court. If the bondman does not comply by brining the bailee to the court, the bondsman must pay the full amount pledged in the promissory note.

It is basically like a repo.

It should also be noted bounty hunters don't randomly grab a wanted poster out of the post office and go to work.

The bondman must assign / contract with the bounty hunter and designate the bounty hunter as his legal agent - again just like repo's.

[fishing]

US bail system is a racket and needs significant reform - don't mean to derail the thread any more :).

[jlw]

My personal actual interaction on the job with actual "recovery agents" or whatever term you want to use is limited to a sample size of two, and they were both negative with one being arrested and one who was let go, but he did commit a criminal act.

Add to that, I had another one tell me in conversation that if I had someone under arrest and he had a "recovery" on them, that he could pull them out of the back of the car and take them because his "recovery" superseded my criminal charges. I told him that if he tried, he'd wind up in the back of the car too.

--------------------
Now as to actual bond in my state (yours may be different), most people including the bond companies don't have an understanding of what they are doing other than filling out the paperwork.

If your brother is in jail and you bond him out, he's in your custody and you are required to return him to court. You. Not me. You.

In order to come off of the bond, you would have to return him to the jail or to open court. You can't get mad at him and call/drop by and state that you want to come of his bond and tell us where he is so that we can go get him. He's legally out of jail, and until he actually doesn't show up for court, we can't touch him unless you physically surrender him. If he leaves town, you panic, and then you come to the jail wanting to come off of his bond because you don't know where he is, your still on the hook.

As for the bonding companies, I had one write a bond on a person in jail for ID theft after having been caught with the equipment to produce IDs and credit cards and who had no ties to the area at all as they were caught whilst passing through via a traffic stop. The person was facing serious time because it was a count for each card in their possession. I told the bond company that there was a good chance that the person would skip and that if they did I was going to move against their letter of credit for the full amount, and they were shocked that I was going to actually hold them accountable. They still wrote the bond anyway.

[TGS]

My personal actual interaction on the job with actual "recovery agents" or whatever term you want to use is limited to a sample size of two, and they were both negative with one being arrested and one who was let go, but he did commit a criminal act.

Can you share?

[jlw]

Can you share?

The one that was let go entered an off limits area dressed in his ninja gear. I was the back-up officer. The primary explained the law and the guy was cooperative. Believing that it was an honest mistake, the primary chose to let him leave rather than arrest him.

The second guy forced his way into a house and snatched up a girl who was obviously not the person he was seeking. He took a ride.

[fishing]

The second guy forced his way into a house and snatched up a girl who was obviously not the person he was seeking. He took a ride.

YIKES.