Most States allow bounty hunting services, including the State of Colorado. States which don’t approve bounty hunters are Florida, North and South Carolina, Illinois, Kentucky, and Oregon.
This article will tell you how bounty hunting works in the State of Colorado, the bounty hunters’ primary responsibilities and limitations, and why bail bond agents in Colorado hire their services.
Bounty hunters are also known as “bail recovery agents” since they are usually hired by the bail bondsman who wants to locate a client who is avoiding and hiding from persecution. Most states have only a few requirements and regulations set by the government for the bounty hunters.
WHAT IS THE MAIN RESPONSIBILITY OF A BOUNTY HUNTER?
A bounty hunter works for a bail bond agent to apprehend a defendant who skips bail bonds in Colorado. Your main task is to re-arrest the client who is now a fugitive. You have to search for their homes, work, or other places that they might go to. When you are trying to find a defendant, who is on the run, you have to be creative in establishing the defendant’s whereabouts.
LIMITATIONS OF BOUNTY HUNTERS
Although most states are lenient in regulating the bounty hunting industry, there are known limitations regardless of which State the bounty hunter is assigned in.
- No authority to arrest others aside from the defendant who jumps bail.
- Not allowed to carry illegal firearms
- Not allowed to use excessive force to arrest or catch the fugitive
- Must follow State laws in seizing and detaining fugitives
- Might face a false arrest lawsuit if you caught the wrong person
REQUIREMENTS OF BOUNTY HUNTERS
A bail bonds agent in Colorado must employ bail recovery agents or bounty hunters for them to work within the State. Typically, the basic requirements are:
- You must be 18 years old and older.
- You must be a US citizen or resident alien.
- You must have no felony convictions.
There might be additional requirements that bounty hunter candidates need to pass.
- The bail bonds company might background check the candidate to ensure that there are no felony convictions.
- The applicant might need to take an exam from the Colorado Bail Bonding Agent Examination through the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).
COLORADO BOUNTY HUNTER LICENSE
Applicants who pass the initial examination through DORA are eligible to apply for licensure after a year of completion. The bounty hunter license is valid for two years. Moreover, the renewal of licensure requires you to complete at least 24 hours of continuing education courses.
BOUNTY HUNTER AS A CAREER
Choosing bounty hunting as a career might be a good decision since there is an increased demand for this type of job due to many defendants who jump bail bonds in Colorado. The salary varies depending on the State, the number of re-arrested fugitives, and the experience level. Bounty hunters work hand in hand with the bail bonds company and the Court. That’s why good public relations are needed to be successful in this career.