Are bounty hunters legal?
Bounty hunters are legal, but they have a strictly defined role. They aren’t cops for hire or private investigators — they work at the behest of bail agents. They don’t have any more authority than someone making a citizen’s arrest. As this FAQ explains, bail agents hire bounty hunters to locate and arrest defendants who have forfeited their bail bonds, usually by not showing up for a court appearance. The bounty hunters generally work for a percentage of the bond. For a fascinating description of the day-to-day life of a bounty hunter, check out this great interview with Bay Area bounty hunter Hector Rivera. There’s a fair amount of rough and tumble involved, but Mr. Rivera comes across as a very humane and decent guy. Bounty hunter laws tend to vary by state. Most states require some sort of training and licensing. The majority of bounty hunters are competent professionals
