Bounty Hunter

A bounty hunter is a professional person who captures fugitives or criminals for a commission or bounty. The occupation, officially known as bail agency enforcer, bail enforcement agent, bail agent, recovery agent, bail recovery agent, or fugitive recovery agent, has traditionally operated outside the legal constraints that govern police officers and other agents of the state. This is because a bail agreement between a defendant and a bail bondsman is essentially a civil contract that is incumbent upon the bondsman to enforce. As a result, bounty hunters hired by a bail bondsman enjoy significant legal privileges, such as forcibly entering a defendant's home without probable cause or a search warrant; however, since they are not police officers, bounty hunters are legally exposed to liabilities that normally exempt agents of the state—as these immunities enable police to perform their designated functions effectively without fear—and everyday citizens approached by a bounty hunter are neither required to answer their questions nor allowed to be detained. Bounty hunters are typically independent contractors paid a commission of the total bail amount that is owed by the fugitive; they provide their own PLI and only get paid if they are able to find the "skip" and bring them in.

Bounty hunting is a vestige of Common law which was created during the Middle Ages. Bounty hunters primarily draw their legal imprimatur from an 1872 Supreme Court decision, Taylor v. Taintor. The practice historically existed in many parts of the world; however, as of the 21st century, it is found almost exclusively in most of the United States and the Philippines, as the practice is illegal under the laws of most other countries. State laws vary widely as to the legality of the practice; Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon and Wisconsin have outlawed commercial bail bonds, while Wyoming offers few (if any) regulations governing the practice.

The New West is home to some of the toughest criminals in the Americas. Many western towns and law enforcement agencies are not equipped to hunt down these criminals. This is where the Bounty Hunter comes in. For the right price, these men and women will track down, capture and/or kill dangerous outlaws and monsters. They often use disguises and/or pretend to be sheriffs, gunslingers, bandits, preachers, mercenaries, etc. - whatever it takes to gets the job done. Good Bounty Hunters never give up and always get their man. . . dead or alive.