Orlando, FL

My Luis I am known as Rick. I am a born again Christian with a heart to do the right thing. I know you may be very busy and most likely not even finish this email but EVERYONE I have talked to said that you were they guy to ask about becoming a bounty hunter.  I was a PI and I enjoy being out there finding what no one else can but it was not enough. After reading about Duane Chapman and what he does it all made a lot of sense. That is what I was called to do. I was a martial art teacher and enjoy preacher as well. I really want to get into this business but in Florida there are no bounty hunters. I was wondering what I can do to get started in this career. Even if I have to move I will do it .I hope you have some advice that can help me .

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Luis,

 

I certainly understand your desire to "do the right thing" and give me some credit- I read the entire email even though I stopped dead when I saw Duane "The Dog" Chapman's name mentioned in the letter.

 

Make no bones about it- "the Media Hound" does this for publicity, fame, and I'm sure- the almighty dollar as well.  He talks a good game referring this to the Lord's work but when he takes 10 minutes and degrades another human being and completely trashes the defendant's self-esteem (on TV no less) in a fit of adrenaline, I cannot even begin to imagine him being a Man of God as he espouses on his show!  I think that it is part of this persona he has created for the public- "A felon who has seen the error of his ways and is now committed to truth, justice, and the American way!"  Bullshit!  

 

I am certainly not a religious man- though I believe in God, but I would NEVER NEVER NEVER treat a defendant the way he and the rest of his band of adrenaline junkies speaks to them!  It is unprofessional and is exactly the stereotype that we, as an industry, are trying to shed.  A pro will remember that each defendant that we pick up is a "client of our client."  That is to say that this defendant is a customer of a bail bondsman that in turn hired us to do a job.  Bail Bondsmen get a lot of business from word of mouth referrals; how well do you think a defendant is going to speak of the bonding company that employs a bunch of thugs to pick him up because he couldn't get to court?  In turn, will your client continue to use the people who are ruining his own business?  NO WAY.  NO CLIENT = NO WORK = NO PAY = FAILURE.  The only reason that Chapman can get away with his maltreatment of these fugitives is because they are his and his family's own clients.  Word will get around and he won't have clients much longer for fear that they will be treated horribly (or worse- preached to) on TV. 

 

Bounty hunting is not illegal in Florida, per se...

 

In Florida you must obtain your "limited surety agent" license from the

Florida Department of Financial Services, Bureau of Agent and Agency

Licensing, in order to legally apprehend bail fugitives.

 

It is important to note that in Florida it is illegal to refer to or

identify oneself as a bounty hunter, bail enforcement agent, fugitive

recovery agent, etc- anything other than a "limited surety agent" or a

"professional bail bondsman."

 

More information can be obtained by visiting the FDFS website at:

http://www.fldfs.com/Agents/ or by calling them at (850) 413-3137, Ext. 1101

The only advice I have for you Luis, is that if you truly want to be a successful surety investigator- don't believe everything you see on TV.

-L. Scott Harrell