What is a Bounty Hunter?

A Bail Enforcement Agent (BEA) a/k/a Bounty Hunter is defined as an individual or entity who (for a fee) apprehends individuals who have failed to appear on bond or bail and surrenders them to the appropriate jail or to court.  We work for bail bondsmen or on behalf a bail bond indemnitor (like a cosigner).  We do not have the power to arrest anyone unless a bail bondsmen grants us their "authority" over their defendant-client; we don't look for people on "most wanted" pages because we do not have police powers of arrest in criminal matters.

We are known by many different titles:

Bail Enforcement Agents
Bail Enforcers
Bounty Hunters
Bail Recovery Agents
Bail Fugitive Recovery Persons (in California)
Fugitive Recovery Agents (FRA)
Bail Agents
Bail Bond Investigator
Surety Investigator
Private Investigator

Whatever term you choose to use, we all do the same thing for a living (at least part time).

We ARE NOT police officers, special agents or law enforcement!  We are simply private citizens enforcing a civil contract between a bail bondsman and a criminal defendant who has promised the bondsman that he or she will appear in court.

Too many people do this job thinking they are Rambo or Super Cop.  This is clearly not the case- so if you are wanting to get into the business don't be an a-hole and muck it up for everyone who is behaving and doing the job professionally.

No lights or sirens!
No flashing badges letting everyone think you are a cop!
No kicking in doors!
No harming of the defendant!
No making physical threats to the indemnitor!
No squealing on informants!
AND NO HURTING INNOCENT BYSTANDERS!

Start with a quality bail enforcement school.  Training will keep you out of jail, out of a pine box and hopefully out of the news looking like America's Dumbest Criminals yourself.

Good luck and visit my websites for more information.  (Hint:  Links to them are on the left under "Great Websites and Resources")

-Scott Harrell