Bounty hunters, people who retrieve fugitives for work, track down fugitives who failed to appear in court for a percentage (usually 75%) of the total bail. It can be a lucrative job (an experienced hunter can earn $ 50,000 to $ 80,000 a year in the United States), but it's just as dangerous. If you're thinking about taking this route, here's an overview of what you'll need.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Requirements
Step 1. Check the laws of your country
In the United States, for example, bounty hunting re-emerged after an 1872 Supreme Court case Taylor vs. Taintor, but the laws vary from state to state. You may need to undergo a credential check or wear a uniform that qualifies you as a bounty hunter. A firearms license may also be required. The organization representing this branch of the law is the National Association of Fugitive Recovery Agents [1].
- A good idea is to research the laws of the states or countries adjacent to yours as you may have to follow a fugitive abroad.
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In many countries outside the United States, activities such as that of the guarantor (which pledges money or property to secure a defense attorney's presence in court in exchange for a reward from the defendant) are illegal, which eliminates the role of the bounty hunter from the scene. If you cross borders while looking for a criminal, what you do could lead to arrest.
In fact, the only two countries that use financial bail are the United States and the Philippines. This is just one of the many laws in which the United States proves its peculiarity
Step 2. Pass a background check
Let's be honest: in some places, an ordinary wanderer on the street could be a bounty hunter (he could never be suspected, that's for sure). In others, however, it may be necessary to pass a criminal background check. If you have not been convicted, it will all be rosewater.
You're thinking of Dog Chapman, that ex-Hawaii convict on that bounty hunter TV show, aren't you? Well, sure, he's a criminal - but have you ever noticed that he's not the one catching the criminals and that he doesn't carry a gun? You want to carry a gun, right? And be the arrest yourself?
Step 3. Obtain a permit to carry firearms
Again, this all depends on where you live. But if you want to travel all over the country, it would be better to have one. In general the more "permissions" you have, the better.
Each state is different, so it's impossible to tell you how to get it. Rest assured, however, because on wikiHow you will surely find instructions on how to obtain a specific weapon carrying permit for your country
Step 4. You must be of legal age, ie you must be eighteen
Nobody will allow a little boy to go after a murderer in the middle of the night.
Step 5. Try to get a certification or license
Some states require it. If you live in a state that requires certification, be wary of schools that are just utter crap. Do research ahead of time to make sure you're only spending some money on something that will actually pay off in the long run. Here is a list of the states that do not require certification:
- Hawaii
- Alaska
- Montana
- Idaho
- Wyoming
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- Michigan
- Alabama
- Pennsylvania
- Maryland
- Vermont
- Maine
- Delaware
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Rhode Island
The profession is illegal in Oregon, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Illinois, and Nebraska, at least at the moment. Laws are subject to change every two years
Method 2 of 3: Get a Engagement
Step 1. Find a mentor
You know all those famous people who are famous because they have someone famous in their family? Well, to get into the bounty hunter business, you also need to find someone to support you!
This is especially true if your state doesn't need certification or licensing. You must show that you know what you are doing and that you are capable of doing the required work. Finding a mentor and making a name for yourself is the best way to do this
Step 2. Go to college
No, it is not necessary to have a degree to be a bounty hunter, but it is still a great idea. You will get more respect from your fellow bounty hunters. Not to mention how to survive when you have a few cases, perhaps spaced out over time.
It's a good idea to major in psychology, sociology, or criminology if you want to take this profession seriously. Putting yourself in the mind of your "runaway" is imperative to find him - and it will be easier for you to get jobs! Between a graduate and a high school graduate, who would they choose for a position?
Step 3. Get the right equipment
We mean weapons and the like. You will probably need a gun (if you are in good standing with the license), handcuffs, pepper spray and similar equipment. Just like a Boy Scout, it's best to be prepared.
You may need to wear flashy clothing that identifies you as a bounty hunter, depending on the state you are in
Step 4. Get reliable transportation
If you just learned of a fugitive who fled to Seattle while on the east coast, how are you going to get there? The best solution would be to jump on a flight and rent a car. For this reason, you will need a small stash of money to get started.
For local cases, you will only need a reliable car, but you will still need some money to get started. You will not get paid until you successfully catch the criminal, so you will have to anticipate the necessary expenses
Step 5. Talk to the guarantors for the bail of the criminals
The more you hang out with them, the better it will be for you. Try to meet them on a weekly basis, perhaps for a game of poker, and they will remember you on the occasion of the next runaway in town.
It happens to everyone that they have to cut their teeth in a new profession, even in this one. If you have to do some free chores, don't hold back. Not only will you gain experience, but you will also show that you are capable, true to your word and that you can do your job well
Step 6. Advertise yourself
This is a profession that relies heavily on word of mouth. You may not have to distribute your business cards, but you will still need to take steps to make yourself known within the network of guarantors. They will choose you. Seeing is believing.
It's a networking job. Everything is based on who you know and not on what you know. You should hone your skills right now and communication should be one of them
Step 7. Find customers
Contact a guarantor agency and offer your services. As a bounty hunter, you will be a freelancer and like everyone else in this field you will need to advertise yourself. You will need to be available at all times of the day. Be ready!
If you are assigned a job, make a copy of the certificate indicating the person as a fugitive and, if required by your state, a copy of the bail, so you can safely arrest the criminal. You will also need the power of speech that gives you the authority to arrest a fugitive in the name of the guarantor
Step 8. Train for a safe arrest and surrender of fugitives
Military, law enforcement and / or self-defense training will be essential in your ability to make your work as safe as possible. You will be more confident in your abilities and will be able to show everyone what you can do.
- Having well-rounded skills is in your best interest. If you're a Jedi I guess he excels at karate, that's fine. But if you are a Jedi I guess who excels at karate, jiujitsu, parkour and lock-breaking, then that's great.
- Due to the nature of your job, having a background in the application of the laws is a very positive factor. If you can find a course, you better take it! Your local university probably offers something, but your police department can definitely point you in the right direction.
Step 9. Understand the risks
Every fugitive is considered armed and dangerous, and in some states, you may not be able to carry firearms. There is also the possibility that the fugitive may seek revenge after being caught, whether he is guilty or not. At the same time, know that the most violent criminals do not go out on bail and that most of the fugitives who are caught by the bounty hunters do not offer resistance.
Method 3 of 3: Find the Fugitive
Step 1. Hone your detective skills
You have to play security guard, policeman and private investigator all in one. While being able to physically manage someone is important, it is even more so from a mental point of view. To find someone who runs away from the law, you need to know how:
- understand if they are lying to you
- avoid leaving traces
- to negotiate
- have access to telephone records and analyze them
- delve into a person's past
- questioning friends and relatives
- do whatever it takes to find who is running away
Step 2. Research your subject thoroughly
Search the databases of addresses, phone numbers (also tracks his calls), license plates and social security to figure out where the fugitive might be, then go there. Monitor the area - it can sometimes take hours or days. Rest now, because you won't have time later!
- Look for some "Judas", people who have been betrayed by the criminal and who wish to see him in the cell (for example a drug dealer, an ex, etc.).
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Pay motel employees to call you if they see the criminal with a gun.
That is why it is better to get to know a lot of people. The more "favors" you can collect, the better. During your work, you will have to rely on the people you know and who you will meet to guide you to your goal
Step 3. When you find it, use the element of surprise
Many bounty hunters arrive in the middle of the night or pretend to be delivery boys. Avoid a physical confrontation, not only is it not safe for you but you will have to bring the criminal back in good condition and not bruised or injured. Put the handcuffs on him and take him to the county jail where he was originally arrested.
- If you find a fugitive, you can enter his house without warning, but only after you have established without a shadow of a doubt that the house is his.
- You don't have to read him about his rights before arresting him.
Step 4. Keep in mind that mundane and quiet situations can prevail
Not all cases consist of cross-country ski chases and weeks spent in dingy hotels. You will probably catch the girl who simply bit her husband in a moment of fury. In cases like these, it may be that you need to argue empathetically. Yes, you, a bounty hunter. Here the skill consists in distinguishing who will respond to logic and reason and who will not.
Some cases were resolved by telephone. If you can convince the fugitive that it's better for him if he comes to you, you can do everything over the phone, but that rarely happens. However, you must know that anything can happen. It could be surprisingly cooperative or it could waste a week of your life running away from you. Badly, this career will be full of surprises
Step 5. Get paid for the services
If you've successfully stopped the fugitive, it's time to go back to the one who guaranteed you the prize to get paid. You will be able to invoice him for all the expenses incurred during the tracking. If he is honest, he will pay promptly and in full.
Due to the nature of this job, your paycheck will be incredibly unstable. It is really appropriate to say 'party or famine'. If you can handle the instability and days away from home, you are well on your way to becoming the next successful bounty hunter
Advice
Here is a list of links to sites that contain the rules for a bounty hunter in the United States.
- Delaware - Bounty Hunter / Bail Enforcement Agents
- Louisiana - Bail Bond Licensing Requirements / Bounty Hunter (PDF)
- New Jersey - Bounty Hunter Information and Updates
- Texas - Department of Public Safety, Bounty Hunter Information
- Washington - Bail bond recovery agent
- If you're inexperienced, getting an agency to give you a job can be difficult. It would be best to find you a hunter who has already made arrests and who agrees to mentor you before starting.
Warnings
- Note that in most countries outside the United States, the bounty hunter figure is illegal and you will be arrested. See the 'Dog Chapman' case.
- Although the hunter featured in the popular reality show Duane "Dog" Chapman was a criminal, this is an exception rather than a rule. Criminals don't usually become successful bounty hunters because of all the qualifications usually required. Even if a particular state does not require them, bail agencies will be reluctant to work with former criminals because they are not trusted.
