Bounty hunters and bail bondsmen may seem like they have a lot in common, but there are some major differences. A bounty hunter is someone who captures criminals for a reward, while a bail bondsman is an agent of the court that will post money to get defendants released from custody until trial or sentencing. If, for example, you are in jail, you may need to call a 24-hour bail bondsman so that they may take care of your bail.
The difference between these two professions can be confusing at first so let us learn more about them.
Who Is A Bounty Hunter?
A bounty hunter is someone who captures fugitives and brings them in for apprehension or extradition. They are offered rewards if they are successful. Bounty hunters have often been portrayed as those capturing criminals wanted dead or alive on behalf of law enforcement agencies. They track them down by following clues such as tips received from other people. Bounty hunters may work independently or as a team.
What Are The Responsibilities Of A Bounty Hunter?
The responsibility of a bounty hunter is to capture the fugitive in order to be paid a bounty for their capture. The highest paying bounties are usually found with the most wanted criminals, such as murder and kidnapping.
They also transport the fugitive to a police station or jail. The bounty hunter will try not to use excessive force or violence in capturing and transporting the fugitive as some jurisdictions have a law against it.
Another role of a bounty hunter is to keep the fugitive in custody until they are handed over to law enforcement officials.
Who Is A Bail Bondsman?
A bail bondsman is a person who posts bonds in exchange for the full or partial release of an accused individual from custody, pending legal proceedings. They will also serve as a surety to the court.
Bail bond agents must have strong financial and business backgrounds and good people skills, such as negotiating deals with individuals in custody for release until trial or parole hearings. They also require an understanding of the legal system and laws in order to uphold their obligations.
What Are The Responsibilities Of A Bail Bondsman?
The responsibility of a bail bondsman is to provide payment for an arrested criminal so that they can be released from jail until their trial date or release on parole. This service is often provided by private companies and sometimes in lieu of other forms of security.
They post bonds on behalf of an individual who has been arrested but cannot afford their own release from prison. The length and amount will vary depending on each case and the arrestee’s current financial situation.
The bail bondsman will typically collect a fee from the arrestee and charge an additional amount to cover their own expenses for post bond. They may also ask for collateral, such as a house or property that they can sell in cases of failure to pay.
When the arrestee shows up for their court date, any bail bondsman who posted a bond will receive that money back. If they do not show up to their trial or fail to pay in other ways, the bail bondsman will be held accountable and sell collateral as agreed upon when issuing the bond.
What Is The Difference Between A Bounty Hunter And A Bail Bondsman?
In the U.S, there are different types of bail bondsmen and bounty hunters, such as fugitive recovery agents or jail release agents. These are professionals who specialize in one type of service to provide a higher level of expertise to their clients than someone with less experience would be able to do.
The main differences are:
- While bounty hunters are hired by the fugitive’s family or other individuals, bail bondsmen work for themselves.
- Bail bondsmen typically get paid when they successfully post their client and collect a percentage of that amount from them as payment in return. Bounty hunters will usually capture wanted criminals and receive a bounty reward proportional to how dangerous the fugitive is.
- In some jurisdictions, bounty hunters must have a license in order to capture fugitives and claim rewards for their capture. At the same time, bail bondsmen do not need licenses but will need certain qualifications to operate legally.
Bounty hunters need an extensive background in law enforcement and must have the ability to work without excessive violence or force. They also need to know how to use firearms and have the physical ability to capture a fugitive. On the other hand, bail bondsmen cannot use these tactics unless authorized by their jurisdiction so that they do not violate any laws themselves.