What exactly does a bounty hunter do?

Question

My husband and I watch Dog The Bounty Hunter, but know the basics of what a bounty hunter does, but not sure what is the process of what happens from the time someone commits a crime.

Answer 1

Ok, You get arrested and go to jail. You don't have the money to put up for bail. You talk to a Bail Bondsman who will then put up the money for you on the understanding that you will pay it back with interest so much at a time. (usually 10% of the bail)

Normally, They pay your bail, you are released and get a court date. During this time you are expected to go to every court date you are assigned. It is the Bail Bondsman's responsibility to see that you do this.

Sometimes the criminals "Skip" on the court date. This is where the bounty hunter comes in. The bounty hunter may be the owner of the Bail Bond business, As Dwayne "Dog" Chapman is the owner of Da Kine Bail Bonds, or they may be hired by the Bail Bond agency to hunt down the offender. Bounty Hunters also known as Skip Tracers track down these fugitives and return them for a fee or "bounty".

Once you have skipped a court date the bail bond becomes due immediately and you or whoever signed the bond wil forfeit any collateral put up and the full amount of bail becomes due immediately.

This is where the "rush" comes in. The rush is a race between the bondsman and the police. But as most police departments don't have the manpower to dedicate to tracking down these fugitives it's usually on the bondsmans side to catch him, especially if he has relocated to another area. If by some chance the police arrest the fugitive before the bail bondsman does the bond is lost and the bondsman loses any money he put up for the bail.So you can see why a lot of bounty hunters are so tenacious at what they do. A lot of money is usually on the line.

Answer 2

When a person has been arrested and bail set by a judge he/she must come up with the bail money or stay in jail until their trial. Bail Bond companies post the bail for people that do not have the money to get out of jail. Bail is to ensure that the person comes to court to face the charges against them. If they do not show up; for court then the bail money is forfeited. When this happens the Bail Bond company loses money. At this time the Bail Bond company will hire a bounty hunter to return the person so they can stand trial and they can get their money back.

Answer 3

The people get out of jail on bail buying a bail bond. "The Bounty Hunter" is really in the bail bond business. He sells bail bonds.

The bail bond is money, sort of like a payment guarantee. That the criminal will appear in court. When they appear in court the money is returned to the bonding agent who sold the bail bond. Then back to the criminal or whomever paid for that particular bond.

However, if they don't appear in court...the money becomes a reward and then bounty hunters can search that person out and get that money as a reward for the capture of that particular criminal.

Bounty hunting can be a good business financially to be in, but it is a very dangerous one too.

Answer 4

Dog the Bounty Hunter Special appeared on A&E last night. Critics may dismiss his plight because they see his show as a novelty. But I say to you this is of great import because there are three men’s lives at stake. This certainly deserves the attention of the public and the US government.

I am so incensed at his arrest and possible extradition back to Mexico. The whole thing is disgusting.


Duane “Dog” Chapman’s life and the life of son Leland & brother Tim hang in the balance over a minor misdemeanor – the capture of Andrew Luster – notorious rapist now serving 124 year sentence in prison.

While in custody in a US federal detention facility, their lives were threatened by familiar faces and other inmates seeking revenge for his bounty hunting profession. The Mexican prison’s conditions would be worse and they would most likely not live to serve the 4 month to 4 year sentence that misdemeanor carries.

“…. Mexico routinely declines to extradite suspects facing life in prison or the death penalty. Mexico's Supreme Court, which favors rehabilitation and views capital punishment and no-parole sentences as cruel, has blocked numerous extraditions until U.S. authorities agreed to lower the potential punishment a suspect faced in an American court.”

“Mexico itself has a mixed track record for returning fugitives. In the case of American citizens who flee to Mexico, it can take U.S. officials months or even years to get a fugitive returned if they have a good lawyer.”
Source:
http://www.courttv.com/trials/luster/062303_mexico_ctv.html

I hope the Department of Justice does not let the American people down and three of its very fine citizens that need its help. Keep the Dog Free!!!!

Answer 5

Ok, Dog is actually a bail bondmen since he also rights the bond for people to get out of jail, what they show on TV is him also going after the people. In real normal life most bondsmen don't do thier own bail enforcement but hire people to do it for them.

If you are in jail and want out you either pay the bail yourself or hire a bail bondmens to put up the bond, if you don't sue up, they issue a non appearance warraant for you, but also demand that the bondsmen pay the bail money for you not showing up, Depending on the court they are allowed so many days to bring the person before the court.

so the Bail Bondsmen hire a Bail Enforcement Agent ( Bounty Hunter) to go find them and bring them back.

Answer 6

A person is arrested he usually has to post bond, through a bonding company. It is 10%, and bonding company guarantees the other 90%. of the bond. When the person does not show up in court the bonding company must put up the 90%. Bounty hunters work for bonding companies and try to locate defendant and take him to court so that they get their ninety per cent back from court.

Answer 7

Bounty Hunter: one who tracks down and captures outlaws for whom a reward is offered. When someone skips bail a bounty hunter is hired/used to catch them. Its a pretty simple concept.

Answer 8

catches people with warrants and who have a bounty on their head ($$$) for a living.

Answer 9

They go after people who have skipped out on bail.

Answer 10

he hunts for the bounty quicker picker upper