what am i allowed to do as a bounty hunter on arresting someone and what does it pay?

Answer 1

The powers of a bounty hunter depend on the state in which he/she is operating. Some states strictly regulate bounty hunters and others pretty much allow open season.

Generally speaking, bounty hunters are authorized to take a person for whom there is an arrest warrant into custody and deliver him/her to the court that issued the warrant or to the nearest law enforcement agency.

Pay is a matter for negotiation between the bounty hunter and the surety company that is legally responsible for the bond. My understanding is that, normally, it is a commission based on the amount of the bond.

Answer 2

Bounty hunter laws vary HUGELY from State to State. Some States have strict licensing and training requirements, some have none at all.

Some bounty hunters are paid employees of a specific bondsman, but most have earnings that depend entirely on how good they are. A typical bounty will be 15% - 20% of the outstanding bail, but it's higher for small bail amounts, or if the skip is known to be out of state or is getting close to the forfeiture date.

It's all about negotiating. If a bonsdman has $500,000 riding on a fugitive, his forfeit date is a week away, and you know where the guy is but no-one else does........... ka-CHING$$$

Richard