El Scott Harrell

Bounty Hunters, Guns and Carrying Firearms

I get a lot of questions about bounty hunters and gun laws or requests about our “right” to carry a firearm while enforcing bail.

The most critical concept for anyone considering a career in bounty hunting to understand is that we are just like any other citizen except that we have a “permission slip” from a bail bondsman to apprehend a very specific defendant under common law and civil contractual law- that’s it. 

Being a bounty hunter does not confer any special privileges unless your specific state licensing law says otherwise; there are a few states that confer firearm privileges to those who obtain the required licensing- you know who you are because you had to obtain firearm qualification during the licensing process.

Our ability to carry a firearm while working depends entirely upon the same state laws concerning carrying any type of weapon that affect every other person living in the state in which we find ourselves working.

We are not law enforcement officers- we are citizens with a couple of cool industry perks.

Scott Harrell on Zoominfo

Identity Theft Resources

One of my friends called me this morning needing some help; his identity had been stolen and he did not know what to do.

I referred him to an outstanding website with a ton of Identity Theft, Scam and Fraud Investigation articles.  Then I laid out a plan of action for him to reclaim his name and good credit:

First, stop the hemorrage of information- preventing further damage makes recovering from identity theft manageable. 

Second, begin the long and difficult process of contacting individual creditors and the consumer credit reporting agencies, Transunion, Equifax and Experian, and start getting your credit report cleaned up.

Lastly, find the source of the crime, investigate fully and develop a strategy for civil litigation and criminal prosecution of the thief or thieves.  Contrary to popular belief (legal) vengence feels great and is not very difficult to achieve in domestic indentity theft crimes.

If you or an acquaintence needs help with an identity theft related matter, do not hesitate to contact my office- Private Investigators in Pensacola and Mobile Alabama.

Private Investigator Blog

Thanks for the link love from one of my proteges-turned-private investigator.  He's running a new blog regarding Private Investigator Hints, Tricks, and Tips, my only hope is that he does not give all of our secrets away.

He's already put up a few good question and answer type articles regarding locating email addresses, and another regarding ethics in worker's compensation.

Good stuff- I only hope that he continues to keep the blog updated and relevant... Brian was a great investigator while he worked with me years ago, I am sure that he will continue to succeed! 

Articles that I would like to see in the future should address what private investigation clients should expect while hiring a private detective, what type of information is and is not available in public databases, how the newly enacted federal law affects pretexting, surveillance tips, etc, etc.

By and large, many private investigators are providing less-than-quality products for their clients; on the job training and internships do not appear to be cutting it anymore either.  The problem is that new interns are being turned into PIs with very little instruction or supervision- their investigative product suffers tremendously.  These investigators then go on to open their own investigation agency, still offering a terrible product because they don't know any better, and hire new interns and teach them less than what the mentor knows. 

You see where I am going here:  with every generation of new, poorly trained PI-turned-agency-owner, you have a predictable loss in professionalism and it is beginning to show.

As an industry, how do we stem this tide and save the profession?  The short-sighted will say that the weak investigators will eventually go away and the strong will survive, but those of us who see the big picture understand that these substandard and less than ethical investigators are actually hurting the industry very badly.  We are under constant scrutiny by the privacy watchdogs (which is not necessarily a bad thing) and are losing essential tools, which we once enjoyed, through sweeping legislation precisely because investigators have lost their way and don't know where to draw the line any longer with what is and is not acceptable.

Perhaps Brian can elaborate more on that in his blog as well.  Keep up the good work.

Rare East Coast Bounty Hunting Class Being Taught by...

I wanted to pass on some very special news regarding a bail recovery class being put on by one of the VERY TOP professionals in the bail enforcement industry today.  This is an extremely rare event.

Scott MacLean, a very successful bail enforcement agent and bondsman, is personally instructing this class at his beautiful office just minutes outside of Washington DC.  He has been a mentor and leader for many years; his many accomplishments include invitations to be a guest speaker to national and state bail associations- always wowing his audience with a ton of new and innovative information.  He is a featured speaker this year at the annual Professional Bond Agents of the United States (PBUS) conference in Las Vegas and has guest lectured at several of my bounty hunting seminars as well.

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When:  January 27th from 9am to 6pm and Sunday January 28th from 8am to 5pm 
Where:  LaPlata, MD- confirmed attendees will receive the address and directions
Cost:  $350 and lunch is provided.
Contact:  Scott MacLean’s toll free number is 877-574-0500 or you can email him at scott.maclean (at) chesapeake-bailbonds.com

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As a very special bonus- I am giving all attendees a 2 year membership to the National Surety Investigators Network.  You must tell Scott that I referred you and a membership application will be provided to you at the class.

This class will feature instruction from Rod Milstead too.  Not only was Rod a force to be reckoned with as a former Washington Redskin in the NFL but he is a powerful presence in the bail bond community today.  I am excited that he will be there.

I know that this is short notice to make plans to attend but it took some real convincing just to get him to agree to put this class together and allow me to ask you to come.  Taking this opportunity to learn from one of the best could put your bail enforcement or bail bond career on the fast track.

Seating is limited. Call or email Scott MacLean TODAY to ensure that you can still get in. 

His toll free number is 877-574-0500 or you can email him at scott.maclean (at) chesapeake-bailbonds.com

I hope you will be able to attend.

L. Scott Harrell
CompassPoint Investigations
BondforFeitures.com

In Relentless Pursuit of your Success!

Florida Texas Alabama and Mississippi Private Investigators
Texas PI # A-9853
Florida PI # A 2500251
Mississippi MPIA (1998)
Alabama State Business Licensed- Baldwin and Mobile County

Hot Private Investigator Services for 2007

Here is what I feel will either continue to be, or become, the top markets for private investigators in 2007.  I have purposefully left out a lot of the "old standards" because I wanted to be more predictive about what I think is going to be several true cash centers for private investigation agencies who are struggling to compete or find business among traditional service offerings.

1.  The entire Identity Theft market is a huge source of revenue for private investigators who want to specialize in preventing ID thefts or assisting those who have become a victim of identity fraud.

2.  Surveillance while this is a traditional service private eyes have always offered, it will always be a highly lucrative market.  Watching people and places accounted for 81% of my total billable hours in 2006.

3.  Computer Forensics.  As the population becomes increasingly computer savvy, more crimes are being committed with the assistance of a computer.  Add to that the prevalence of information left on a computer which may point towards an extramarital affair or dangerous practices by children on the Internet and you have an emerging market which many private investigators have not yet fully realized. 

Specialized training in forensic computer examination is required as there are a lot of shysters out there right now claiming forensics.  I had a private investigator in Alabama call me the other day and tell me that forensics was one of his specialties.  I asked him where he received his training and he told me that he received it in the military.  I asked when he received that training and he said, "14 years ago."  A lot has changed since then.  I think he knew I had called him out on that one as he quickly got off of the phone.

4.  GPS Vehicle Monitoring.  As the costs come down on GPS tracking units and the reliability improves this service will continue to grow.  A large market exists right now for fleet and heavy equipment tracking which is only beginning emerge.

5.  Wireless Hotspot Security.  Mark my words and I will be the first to predict it here and now... there will be a HUGE opportunity for wireless hotspot security audits and WiFi consulting.  States (including NY and CA) are beginning to actually pass laws which require owners of wireless routers to secure them from routine public access.  How easy would it be to drive around with a cheap WiFi hotspot finder and then test the signal for access security?  You could then easily triangulate the signal to an owner and offer information and a 5 minute service to secure their wireless LAN.  Last time I checked, there were at least 4 unsecured WiFi ports in range of my living room!

6.  Security Consulting.  It goes without saying that the US is becoming uber-security conscious and more people are demanding security both at home and at work.  Requests for security services and surveys have risen 14% in my office year after year for the last 4 years and we don't even advertise these types of service offerings.  Many of these requests are geared towards helping companies secure their data and information from theft; there must be something to it.

7.  Competitive Intelligence.  Competitive intelligence is the LEGAL way to gain information on a client's competitors in an effort to give them the edge in the marketplace.  I had a case not too long ago where a friend wanted to start a commercial landscaping service and asked me how he could jumpstart his marketing and advertising.  The solution was immediately clear- go to the consumers of such services first and offer to do the job better and a little less expensive than the current provider.  So he hired my investigation agency to pick 3 commercial landscaping companies to follow and develop a client list.  We not only developed an extensive client list for him but obtained copies of their marketing materials, products used, service fees and points of contact (the decision makers).  Armed with this information my friend then simply approached the potential clients with a better offer. 

Out of the 71 service consumers we identified, he landed 18 of them and had instant start up revenue; 11 of these 18 were clients of the same landscaping company so there was obviously a service problem.  We focused our efforts on that one service provider for 2 more days and our client ended up gaining an additional 6 accounts.  Our cost to him for services ended up being a little over $5,720 but the 24 accounts he picked up will have paid for our services in less than 2 months.  We have replicated this type of service now well over a dozen times and are making this a featured service within my agency.

Do you have a featured market or investigation service you think will be the next big thing for private investigators in 2007?  I'd love to hear them.

L. Scott Harrell
CompassPoint Investigations
In Relentless Pursuit of your Success!

Florida * Texas * Alabama * Mississippi

Ofc   (877) 363-4884
Fax   (877) 761-8264
Web  compasspointpi.com
Eml   info @ compasspointpi.com

Texas PI # A-9853
Florida PI # A 2500251
Mississippi MPIA (1998)
Alabama State Business Licensed

Can I Be a Bounty Hunter with a Felony Criminal Record

Scott, can I become a bounty hunter if I have a felony conviction?

In general, the answer is no but there are several exceptions and it really begins with where you live.  First, each state regulates the bail enforcement industry differently- some require specific licensing, others require that one completes various certification procedures while other states do not require licensing at all; it is in those state where there is no licensing or certification process (no background check required) where a felon may try to pursue work in the bounty hunting business.  I’ll be honest with you though, no one that I know in this business wants to work with a felon and will not knowingly hire a felon.

But…

Yes, I know… Dog Chapman is a felon… but he is essentially working for his wife’s bail bond company in a state that does not license or regulate recovery agents working on behalf of a bail bondsman; Hawaii is one of those states which does not require licensing or certification or background checks.

Why then, doesn’t anyone want to work with a felon?

There is a term called “respondeat superior” a key doctrine in the law of agency, which provides that a principal (employer) is responsible for the actions of his agent (employee) in the "course of employment" and this includes the typical independent contractor relationship which most recovery agents have with the client.  Thus, if a bounty hunter causes a liability, the bonding company for which the hunter works will be liable for the injuries as well.  When it comes to light in court that the bondsman hired a felon, a jury will crucify everyone involved.  It has happened on several occasions in the past and I can cite specific cases which involved the use of felons by bondsmen who were subsequently sued for everything they owned- and then some.  It really makes no difference what the felony conviction was for specifically.

But I have the mindset of a felon and I easily move among criminal without suspicion.  It takes a criminal to catch a criminal…

That statement has always been the biggest load of horse shit I have ever had the opportunity to choke on.  Give me a break and sell that crap to someone who is buying it.  If that was true then the best undercover agents in the world would come from San Quentin or Sing Sing prisons and law enforcement agencies would set up career day in the out-processing center of every state jail or federal prison in the country, which is clearly not the case.  I believe that statement has always been a marketing tool by some con trying to sell security consulting services to another dim-witted customer.  I am not a felon or a criminal, have no illegal proclivities, but still manage better than a 97% assignment completion rate for over 14 years.

But Duane Chapman does it…

Go hunt in Hawaii- it’s not really all that difficult.  The defendants are on an island 3,000 miles from the mainland, they have no where to go.  99% of them could not afford the $1,500 plane ticket to the mainland and its not like they can hop on a Greyhound Bus for $19 and be 1,000 miles away in a day or two.  There aren’t any of the jurisdictional considerations of the UCEA we have here in the contiguous 48 states either.  It’s like shooting fish in a barrel over there- you almost cannot miss.

But I want to turn over a new leaf, renounce my prior ways and give back to my community or affect these defendant’s lives…

Volunteer to serve food at a soup kitchen, read to a senior citizen or build a house with Habitat for Humanity and make a real difference.

Which states do not require licensing or certification?

The list of states not requiring a background investigation for bounty hunters are changing every year and that list is getting smaller all of the time.  Do not take this as legal advice, and I am not an attorney, but my understanding is that of this posting the following states still do not require licensing or certification are:

Hawaii
Alaska
Montana
Idaho
Wyoming
Kansas
Minnesota
Michigan
Alabama
Pennsylvania
Maryland
Vermont
Maine
Delaware
Rhode Island

Bail enforcement and bounty hunting is altogether illegal, for everyone, in
Oregon
Wisconsin
Kentucky
Illinois
Nebraska (maybe… but no one seems to know for sure)

Be extra super secret about it in Washington, DC or you will go to jail- they REALLY don’t like bounty hunters or guns there at all.

Don’t chase people into Mexico without going through the “proper channels” and that does not mean the proper channel is A&E. (That one cracks me up)

Obviously the list above is subject to change but felons can’t bounty hunt anywhere else –legally.  I seriously doubt that any state is going to repeal their background requirements for bail recovery agents and this list will only get smaller with time.

The lesson here today boys and girls is drink your milk and eat your vegetables, be a good kid, stay in school, don’t do drugs, listen to your parents, don’t break the law, don’t beat your wife and maybe you too can become a bounty hunter one day.

Before you write to complain or sick "All of Us or None" on me, I realize that all felons are not bad people- only that good people sometimes may make bad decisions and get caught.  But when a person makes a felonious choice there have to be consequences, some of them permanent, and you probably knew that ahead of time.

Nos Vemos.

Corporate Security and Investigations

I know it has been a while since I've posted some real content here but I promise some good stuff is coming soon.  Don't mind this post though- it's just a little self link loving so that I can stomp my competitors when it comes to various private investigation topics.  Corporate Investigator is an outstanding resource for many topics including Corporate Fraud and Business Theft and other related investigation articles.

Then there is the the website dealing more with Security and Investigation.  Many articles regarding securing identity, computer security, and identity theft investigations.  Too many articles to list but each page does contain private investigator and becoming a PI information which many will find helpful.

I especially like the article 101 Internet Security Basics- outstanding stuff there.  When you're connected to the Internet you're sharing a vast network with hundreds of millions of other users. This shared network provides resources that 15 years ago were never thought possible. Unfortunately when something is shared its open to abuse; when you have 15 million people running around you can bet that one or twon of them are going to be bad guys hell bent on ruining someone's day.  On the Internet this abuse comes from hackers and virus creators. Their sole intent is to cause chaos and/or harm to your computer system and millions of other computer systems all over the world.

Unfortunately, corporate computers are most often the least secure- security costs real dollars but does not contribute to the bottom line.  Give the site a look over and enjoy (if you're into that sort of thing, you secrutry pervert).