Bail Enforcement Questions for a School Project


1. How long have you been bounty hunting?

I have been chasing fugitives of one form or another for 12 years.

2. Are there any classes one must take to become a bounty hunter?

Every state regulates bail enforcers differently; some states do require that one complete an approved course prior to being able to obtain a license. A college degree is not required by any state prior to being able to obtain a license. Education in a variety of subjects is key to being successful in this industry.

3. What is the hardest part of getting started in bail enforcing?

In most cases, the most difficult hurdle for the prospective bail recovery agent to overcome is finding employment with a company that specializes in this type of work or, if he or she chooses to start their own company from the beginning of their career, obtaining his or her first case.

4. What kind of work is done on the most laid back day of a bounty hunter’s life vs. the kind of work done on the most stress-filled day?

The least stressful days are spent meeting with clients and on days I am in the courthouse or in the office while beginning a fugitive investigation. The greatest amounts of stress are certainly experienced in the moments leading up to and during the actual apprehension of the defendant; this is the most dangerous time for a bail enforcer.

5. How long, on average, do you have to apprehend your suspect?

Typically we have 3 to 4 weeks to apprehend the defendant, however “rush assignments” in which we may only have a week are not uncommon.

6. What are some average priced bounties one could expect for middle of the road cases in a decent sized American city (Tampa, FL)?

Bail amounts in cities the size of Tampa typically average somewhere in the $3,000 to $5,000 range with bail being set as low as $500 and as high as $100,000 for the overwhelming majority of crimes. Obviously this excludes especially violent crimes or cases involving extraordinary circumstances. The industry standard for our fees is 10% of the face value of the bond; we don’t call them “bounties.” So the average investigative fee one would expect in these cases would average between $300 and $500 dollars.

7. Do you see the necessity of bounty hunters to increase, decrease, or stay the same in the years to come?

I believe that the need for bail enforcers will stay roughly the same. The major difference will be in the need for existing bail enforcers to be properly trained, licensed and insured. Through increasing legislative pressures states are further defining who can and cannot work in this industry via tougher licensing standards; they are shaping what the requirements are for entry into the profession and dictating how the investigation must then be completed. This will require increasing levels of sophistication and education to be a successful recovery agent, which will in turn also have a positive effect for the bail enforcement industry.

8. What made you decide to become a bounty hunter?

Good question. I suppose that, like others who become interested in this line of work, the thrill of the chase, the flexible work schedule, and the opportunity to do work I believe in appealed to me from the outset. Certainly the income continues to keep me excited as well.

9. What steps/ career decisions in your life led up to you becoming a bounty hunter?

I had pretty unique training in the military that directly attributed to my decision. I trained along side other Federal law enforcement agencies to do exactly what I do today- find and apprehend fugitives. When I left the military I didn’t want to work in a local law enforcement agency and at the time I did not have my college degree, which would have been required to work for a Federal law enforcement agency. I started a private investigation company of my own and focused on bail recovery as a niche service.

10. How often and on what kind of cases is force necessary?

I have completed in excess of 1,200 apprehensions. In that time I have only had to apply physical force in maybe 9 or 10 instances. Other bail enforcers may experience much higher rates but I believe that the difference comes from how we conduct ourselves. I treat everyone with respect and like a human being from the beginning rather than with aggression, this helps keep any possible escalation in tempers and egos in check.

Since bail enforcers are simply private citizens we are only allowed to employ as much force as reasonably necessary to protect ourselves from harm. I never know when a defendant is going to try and hurt me; it could be anyone facing any type of charge. Obviously, I take additional precautions with those who have committed crimes involving violence or when my investigation prior to the apprehension indicates that he or she has a violent nature.

11. What kinds of restrictions are there on what you can and cannot do to your suspect when they resist.

As I’ve indicated above, we can only apply an amount of force necessary to prevent harm to ourselves or others. Absent specific laws to the contrary (and each state regulates this industry differently), bail enforcers will use non-lethal measure (like pepper spray or mace) and less-than-lethal devices (like tazers and stun-guns) when in a violent situation. It is possible that a bail enforcer may also use deadly force if his or her life is in imminent danger and the possibility of the recovery agent’s successful escape is unlikely.

12. What is the number one skill a bounty hunter should possess?

The most important skill a bail enforcer should possess is the ability to communicate with people from all walks of life; we may encounter anyone from a judge or politician to a homeless person or street thug in order to get the job done.

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