What Is a Bounty Hunter?

Series Summary

So are you thinking about running from the law? Does the life of a fugitive sound exciting, thrilling, and an overall good experience? Well think again, because the bounty hunter will come after you, take you down, and bring your wanted body to justice. A Bounty Hunter, also known as a Fugitive Recovery Agent, is a private law enforcement tradition that has been around since the 18th century. The main job of a bounty hunter is to seek and find fugitives and bring them to justice. There are strict guidelines bounty hunters must follow and a strict pay scale that they have per fugitive brought in.

In this free video series, watch as professional bounty hunter David Fletcher teaches you how to become a bounty hunter. Learn the requirements for bounty hunters, what the main task is, how a bounty hunter gets paid, different equipment used for bounty hunters, and how the laws work for Fugitive Recovery Agents. Get expert tips on this exciting and dangerous profession, thanks to the experts at ExpertVillage.

Video Transcript

"Hi, my name is David Fletcher, commander of United States Fugitive Apprehension. We are here today with Expert Village. A bounty hunter is something that the term comes from the early 1800s. Back when people was paid to bring in individuals that had scoundrel from justice or had committed a crime and ran off. These terms are still around today. The laws are still in the books, the terms are still the same. None of the laws has been changed. We actually have more arresting power than the police department. We have a strict guideline that we have to go by and we still have to be lawed by the citizens. We are personal and private citizens that are hired out and paid to bring people in. This job can be fun, it can be rewarding but it also can be dangerous."