So while the two roles involve different duties, one person may perform both jobs. Because bounty hunting can be a dangerous job that involves capturing wanted fugitives trying to evade the law, many bounty hunters are well-trained in martial arts and other defensive tactics and carry guns, tasers, mace or other weapons with them for personal protection. However, the best defense mechanism a bounty hunter has is the strategic use of the element of surprise.
By catching their targets when the fugitive is not expecting it, the bounty hunter gains the advantage in the exchange. The U. Bureau of Labor Statistics categorizes bounty hunters into the field of private detectives and investigators. This means bounty hunters may experience good job stability and career opportunities.
However, beginning a career in bounty hunting without experience may be challenging, as bail bond agents tend to prefer working with bounty hunters they know and have worked with before. Because a bounty hunter is responsible for locating and capturing fugitives, their work is done in a variety of environments and weather conditions. Bounty hunters may perform investigative work as they follow-up on leads to a fugitive's location both in their office and in the field.
They often travel extensively and work long hours, sometimes between 80 and hours a week. Working conditions for bounty hunters are often also dangerous, so it is important for them to know and use the appropriate safety precautions and defenses when needed.
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Complete necessary training. Become licensed, if needed. Gain relevant experience. Network with bail bond agents. But as a kid I always wanted to be a spy or a detective. At a certain point, at 23 or 24, I had an existential crisis that I never became a professional investigator.
So I started looking into a way to get into that industry. I took a self-defense class, and the very first day that I went I met Jon.
When he got into bail recovery, I was the first person he reached out to. He was completely technologically inept. I was able to find everyone in the files, and we discovered that we had complementary skill sets. Alex, what was the response from your friends and family when you told them that you wanted to give this bounty hunting thing a shot. Both my parents have been extremely supportive. Jon, you said you went into a training program to get into this line of work.
Are those kind of classes required to become a bounty hunter? Jon: Bail-bonding varies from state to state.
Which is not a good thing. There should be some sort of standard. Usually, people get into bounty hunting due to a relationship with a bondsman. So break down the whole process for me, from picking up a file to cashing in a bounty. Jon: We are contractors for different bounty companies. For liability purposes they keep a firewall between us and them. Alex starts researching the file on her computer. I love the feeling of getting a new file.
Our cases have taken us on so many wild adventures. Jon: Alex will run the file through databases, open-source stuff, and social media. We dig around a bit, we ask the bondsman about the file — because most people have been bonded out before. We leave in the morning, I hit the front door, Alex hits the back, we talk our way in, and pick up our defendant.
We drive them to the jail where the warrant was issued. We turn them in, and the jail essentially gives us a receipt. We take the receipt to the bondsman, and they give us money. Or are you using tools that dig deeper than that?
Alex: I use both. I have a lot of fake Facebook accounts, and I see what I can find on various social media sites. The pop culture image of bounty hunting involves a lot of guns and a lot of danger, but how often is the apprehension process a quieter, more boring procedure than someone like might imagine?
After I got out of college I worked in the mental health field as an intensive case manager, and I learned pretty early in my bounty hunting career that these were just as much mental health crisis interventions as they were picking someone up for not going to court. I have to drive them in my car. We treat people with respect. The sooner you realize that these people just want to be treated with dignity and respect, this job gets so much easier. I know bounty hunters that do that.
Do you think there are people who start bounty hunting for the wrong reasons? Do you think people have a toxic mindset in this business? What is it that Nietzsche says? When you cash in a bounty, is that a flat rate, or does it depend on the case?
Bounty hunting comes with many challenges, and most bounty hunters hold significant law enforcement experience. Many are former police officers or private investigators who draw on their work experience and networks of professional contacts.
Like law enforcement, bounty hunting includes an inherent level of danger, as suspects may resist apprehension. Bounty hunters often carry weapons and may occasionally be required to defend themselves against physical harm. Bounty hunters draw on many skills to perform their work. The profession requires a mixture of physical strength, investigative savvy, and strong communication skills. The following list outlines five of the most important skills for bounty hunters. Bounty hunters perform many of the same tasks as police detectives, attempting to locate suspects who may not want to be found.
Successful surveillance requires an eye for detail and the ability to organize and plan effectively. Communication and negotiation skills also come into play when interacting with interview subjects and bail bond agencies. Therefore, bounty hunters need physical strength and agility as well as self-defense skills. Most bounty hunters are also familiar with firearm use and safety. Bounty hunters work with bond agencies to take on bounties for a set fee.
They often work as independent contractors, so they may need to check with multiple agencies to collect new assignments. Bounty hunters fall under the occupational umbrella of private detectives and investigators. Many bounty hunters find the freedom and flexibility of the job appealing. Employed primarily as independent contractors, they typically work on their own schedule, collecting bounty assignments and pursuing fugitives with little adherence to a conventional workday schedule.
At the same time, the independent nature of the job means work may be unpredictable, and bounty hunters often take on risk and liability uncommon in most career paths. Bounty hunters receive compensation for each contract they fulfill, typically collecting pay only after they apprehend a fugitive. Bounty hunters with more experience commonly earn a higher rate per assignment. However, those with higher levels of education typically possess a more comprehensive skill set and greater knowledge of criminal justice practices, enabling them to take on more complicated assignments that come with higher pay.
The process to become a bounty hunter varies from state to state; about half of all U. Even in states without licensure requirements, bounty hunters need to build experience before they can expect any success in the field. Those with fewer professional connections may also have trouble receiving bounty assignments. In general, the more professional experience, education, and connections aspiring bounty hunters possess, the more likely they are to succeed quickly in the field.
The following section outlines the typical steps to becoming a bounty hunter. While becoming a bounty hunter does not require a specific degree, studying criminal justice or law enforcement builds valuable skills for bounty hunting. Become Licensed Many states maintain licensure requirements for bounty hunters, which may call for professional experience or education.
Check with individual states to determine specific requirements.
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