fugitive recovery & bail enforcement specialist …...a lot of times when the bondsman and the...
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Fugitive Recovery – Bail Enforcement International Security Training, LLC Page 1 of 65
Fugitive Recovery – Bail Enforcement International Security Training, LLC Page 1 of 65
Student Manual
Fugitive Recovery &
Bail Enforcement
Specialist Course!
Learn The Basics
Of The
Industry!
“This is a professional education
course, not a licensure course.
This course will prepare the
student to speak, behave &
present themselves as a calm
professional.
If you want to Enhance Your
Professionalism… this course is for
you!”
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Fugitive Recovery – Bail Enforcement International Security Training, LLC Page 2 of 65
Table of Contents:
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
What Is Bail Enforcement?
What Do Bounty Hunters Do?
What Do Bail Runners Do?
History Of The Industry
GETTING STARTED IN THE INDUSTRY --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
Find A Mentor
Keep Current Job
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
Do You Need A License?
Model Criminal Extradition Act
Authority Of Bounty Hunters
Ethics
GETTING & STAYING PHYSICALLY FIT --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15
LOCATING YOUR FUGITIVE / SKIP TRACE PROCESS ---------------------------------------------------------- 16
FUGITIVE APPREHENSION ------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 47
STARTING A BOUNTY HUNTING BUSINESS ------------------------------------------------------------------ 60
Create A Website & Blog
Contacting Bail Bond Companies
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Interviewing For A Job Or Contract
INDUSTRY PRO’S AND RESOURCES ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 65
DISCLAIMER
Although Brian K Allen and International Security Training, LLC have made every effort to ensure that
the information in this course was correct at press time, Brian K Allen and International Security
Training, LLC do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or
disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence,
accident, or any other cause.
The information in this course was derived from the notes taken at numerous industry courses over a
span of many years. While Brian K Allen and International Security Training, LLC did not create / author
the information personally, they organized things in a learnable format for students.
The information in this course is meant to supplement, not replace, proper or legally required training.
Fugitive recovery / bail enforcement poses inherent risk. Brian K Allen and International Security
Training, LLC advises readers to take full responsibility for their legal requirements, safety and know
their limits.
FORMS REFERENCED IN THE COURSE
Instead of recreating forms for our students, we decided to recommend our students obtain them from
an existing resource. We STRONGLY recommend student go to Amazon.com and purchase a new or
used copy of “Modern Bounty Hunting” by Rex Venator.
We do have any financial gain for recommending the above book (or any books / websites in this
course). We recommend them because we have already invested money with them and we trust them
entirely.
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Fugitive Recovery – Bail Enforcement International Security Training, LLC Page 4 of 65
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
What Is Bail?
Bail is a large sum of money promised to the court to insure the
defendant will appear as promised. The promised money is actually called
a bail bond. The relationship between the bail bondsman and the
defendant is contractual in nature. This is why the enforcement of bail law
is primarily a civil (not criminal) action.
Court Receives…
Bad Guy… who applies for bail from…
Bail Bondsman … who may employ a
Bail Runner…
or Bail Bondsman contracts with a Bounty Hunter…
… if Bondsman wants to surrender the Bad Guy (defendant) back to
the authorities for any reason. Normally this occurs when the defendant
doesn’t appear for court as promised.
Let’s back up a bit. First, not all defendants are allowed to post bail.
A judge determines first if the law allows for bail - specific to the charges
and situation. If the judge grants bail, the amount is determined by the
legal statutes as well.
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Once in a while, the defendant can afford to pay the entire amount
on his/her own. In most cases however, they can’t afford to. This is why
they contract with a Bail Bond Company.
What Is A Bail Bond Company?
A bail bond company (or bail bondsman)… is a business entity that
operates in the jurisdiction where the defendant is being held. The bail
bond company has an agreement with the jurisdiction that states it ensures
any defendant that is bailed out by the company… will appear for court as
required. If the defendant doesn’t appear… the bail bond company has to
pay the jurisdiction the entire bail amount. Pretty risky, right? This
agreement is called the “Bail Bond”.
The bond company earns money by charging defendants a
percentage of the bail amount… in order to sign them out of jail. A
common rate is 10%. Let’s say the judge sets the bail amount at $10,000.
The bad guy will pay $1,000 to the bond company if the company signs
him out of jail. Between the time the bad guy is released from jail and the
court date… he has a new baby sitter. A baby sitter that doesn’t play
around!
In order to minimize risk, the bond company will often have an in-
depth application process as well as an interview process. They’ll want to
evaluate the defendant’s flight risk. If they agree to work with the
defendant a contract is signed. A CIVIL contract.
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The last thing a bond company wants is for the defendant not to
show up for court. The higher the flight risk… the higher the upfront
percentage that the defendant will have to pay the bond company.
So far we’ve covered two contracts:
Court Jurisdiction <----- contract -----> Bond Company
Bond Company <----- contract -----> Defendant
The third (and primary) contract we’ll cover in this course:
Bond Company <---- contract -----> Bounty Hunter
(This needs to cause the exoneration of the bond, not just arrest the defendant)
How Does The ‘Hunting’ Process Begin?
If the defendant doesn’t appear for court, the judge does two things:
1. Issues a warrant for the defendant
2. Commences forfeiture action on the bail bond (against bond
company)
This is when the ‘clock starts ticking’. Most states will have a set
number of days that the bondsman has before they have to pay the full
bail amount to the court. For example, in Arizona we have 30 days but
California has 180 days. (at the time of this printing). It’s during this time that
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the bondsman (bond company) will attempt to locate, apprehend &
surrender the defendant.
What Do Bounty Hunters Do?
First, let’s clarify the term “Bounty Hunter”. This term is synonymous
with Bail Enforcement Agent, Fugitive Recovery Agent, and a few other
titles. For simplicity sake, we’ll use the term bounty hunter during most of
this course. When marketing yourself – always use the appropriate
professional term that’s used in your location. (Bail Enforcement or Fugitive
Recovery Agent, etc.)
Since most bondsman have neither the time or skills needed to chase
down bad guys… they contract with a bounty hunter. A bounty hunter is
NOT an employee of a single Bond Company. A bounty hunter is an
independent contractor who works with many bond companies.
The bounty hunter’s purpose is simple: To locate, apprehend and
surrender the defendant.
Who Can Be A Bounty Hunter?
This will depend on where you live. Some states require licensing,
some require education and licensing, some don’t allow bounty hunting at
all. You will need to become familiar with the laws where you intend to
work.
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Here in Arizona, licensing is handled by our Department of Insurance.
In other states, you have to apply with the agency that oversees Private
Bail agents. Once you find a mentor in your area, they can point you in
the right direction. Do an online search for “bail enforcement license your
state name” Do your homework first! If a person works in this industry
without proper licensing – they can be arrested and charged with many
crimes. Also, you will need business insurance!
What Do Bail Runners Do?
Bail Runners work FOR a bond company. Typically, you’ll see them
working in states that have outlawed bounty hunting. Their job is
essentially the same as a bounty hunter. It’s been my observation
however, that bail runners have a big advantage over bounty hunters.
They will typically know that a defendant has not appeared on the same
day as the appearance was set. This means they typically will call, drive to
and pick up the defendant asap… and surrender them.
A lot of times when the bondsman and the bail runners are unable to
locate the defendant… a bounty hunter is brought in. The difficulty here is
that the defendant has been tipped off that they are being sought after
AND the number of days left before the bond company has to pay the full
bail is almost all gone! That means a bounty hunter usually has to be WAY
MORE resourceful that a typical bail runner.
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History Of The Industry by: Stephanie Watson
Bounty hunting originated in England hundreds of years ago. Back in
the 13th century, bail was a person, not an amount of money. An
individual was designated custodian of the accused, and if the accused did
not return to face his penalty, the custodian could be hanged in his place.
During colonial times, America relied upon the bail system set up by
the government of England. In 1679, the British Parliament passed the
Habeas Corpus Act, which for the first time guaranteed that an accused
person could be released from prison on monetary bail. It stated:
... within two days after the party shall be
brought before them, the said lord chancellor or
lord keeper ... shall discharge the said Fugitive from
his imprisonment, taking his or their recognizance,
with one or more surety or sureties, in any sum
according to their discretions, having regard to the
quality of the Fugitive and nature of the offense, for
his or their appearance in the court of the King's
bench the term following ...
This right was later written into the U.S. Constitution. The Eighth
Amendment to the Constitution prohibited the setting of excessive bail,
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and the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the U.S. judicial court
system, defined the terms for bailable offenses.
Federal bail law remained unchanged until the Bail Reform Act of
1966, which allowed the Fugitive to be released with as little bail as
possible to secure his or her return for trial (although the 1984 Bail
Reform Act allowed the courts to hold accused persons without bail if
they were deemed too dangerous for release).
The bounty hunter was given broad authority starting in 1873 with
the U.S. Supreme Court case, Taylor v. Taintor. The case gave bounty
hunters the authority to act as agents of bail bondsmen. Bounty hunters on
the trail of a bail jumper could "pursue him into another state" and, if
necessary, "break and enter his house for that purpose." Today, states
have their own restrictions when it comes to bounty hunting, but most
states give bounty hunters the freedom to pursue and arrest bail jumpers
within and across their borders.
Getting Started In The Industry
1. Find a mentor and work side-by-side for a while.
2. Obtain a license if required by your state / jurisdiction.
3. Get professional & commercial liability insurance.
4. Obtain an automobile insurance policy that will cover you for
business usage AND handcuffed or otherwise restrained
passengers. If you’re working for another bail enforcement
agent and using their vehicle, this may not be needed.
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5. Purchase essential gear.
6. Begin networking and marketing your services.
7. After securing a contract, find and arrest the fugitive, then take
him to jail.
8. Invoice the bond company and collect payment.
9. Repeat!
Finding A Quality Mentor
Here’s a great way to find out who, in your area, is a great bail
enforcement agent. Call couple of the bail bond companies in your phone
book. Tell them you are a bondsman in another state and that you need a
good hunter… and ask them for a recommendation. After speaking to a
handful of companies – notice what name(s) get recommended the most.
The one who gets recommended by most companies is the one you’ll want
to learn from.
Keep Current Job
As you begin to study this career and gain experience by working
with a mentor, we recommend you keep your current job. At a minimum –
keep a part time job. Bills have to be paid and being a bail enforcement
agent is tough work! Not only is it tough to find fugitives… it’s tough
getting bail bond companies to pay you in a timely manner!
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
Uniform Criminal Extradition Act (UCEA)
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aka the Model Criminal Extradition Act
This Act was created to establish a uniform approach to the
extradition of fugitives. A state has the option of adopting the Act as it is…
or customizing their own approach using the Act. To find out what YOUR
State has in place, conduct an internet search using ‘the name of your
State’ followed by UCEA (fully written out). For example, you could go to
Google.com and run a search for:
California Uniform Criminal Extradition Act
or
California Extradition Laws
It’s your responsibility to know what the law requires in the State
that you plan on apprehending your fugitive in! Here are three website for
you to study now:
http://www.uniformlaws.org/Act.aspx?title=Extradition+and+Rendition+Act,+Model
http://definitions.uslegal.com/u/uniform-extradition-and-rendition-act/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendition_(law)
Authority Of Bounty Hunters
In the United States of America, bounty hunters have varying levels
of authority in their duties with regard to their targets depending on which
states they operate in. As shown in Taylor v. Taintor, and barring
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restrictions applicable state by state, a bounty hunter can enter the
fugitive's private property without a warrant in order to execute a “re-
arrest”. They cannot, however, enter the property of anyone other than
the fugitive without a warrant or the owner's permission.
In some states, bounty hunters do not undergo any formal training,
and are generally unlicensed, only requiring sanction from a bail bondsman
to operate. In other states, however, they are held to varying standards of
training and license. State legal requirements are often imposed on out-of-
state bounty hunters, meaning a suspect could temporarily escape re-
arrest by entering a state in which the bail agent has limited or no
jurisdiction.
Seven states (Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oregon,
South Carolina, and Wisconsin), as well as the District of Columbia heavily
restrict bounty hunting, or have banned the practice altogether. Several of
these states have also banned the commercial bail bonds industry within
their borders.
Ethics In The Bail Enforcement Industry
Ethics is acting with an awareness of the need for complying with
rules, such as the laws of the land, the customs and expectations of the
community, the principles of morality, the policies of the organization and
such general concerns as the needs of others and fairness.
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Ethics examines human conduct, analyzes the foundations of such
conduct, assesses such conduct in terms of certain rules or standards of
behavior, and recommends certain behaviors as appropriate and condemns
others as inappropriate.
Why study ethics? It should enhance your professionalism, keep
offenders safe from rogue bounty hunters, and keep YOU out of jail!
Professional conduct, the way others will judge us while we are at work, is
the only tool we have to correct the public's perspective and maintain the
environment in which we work.
12 step checklist for making an ethical decision:
1. Is it legal?
2. How do I feel about this? Am I feeling unusually anxious? Am I
fearful?
3. Will any rules, policies or regulations be violated?
4. Is the proposed action consistent with past practice?
5. Will my conscience bother me if I do this?
6. How would I feel if the details of this situation appeared on the
front page of Yahoo, CNN or FOX News?
7. Does this situation require that I lie about the process or the
results?
8. Do I consider this to be an “extraordinary” situation that demands
an unusual response?
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9. Am I acting fairly? Would I want to be treated this way?
10. Would I be able to discuss the proposed situation or action with
my immediate supervisor? My family? My company’s clients? The
president of the company?
11. If a close friend of mine did this, how would I feel?
12. Will I have to hide or keep my actions secret? Has someone
warned me not to disclose my actions to anyone?
GETTING & STAYING PHYSICALLY FIT
Functional fitness, cardio respiratory fitness and flexibility should be
very important to anyone in the protection industries. Bail enforcement is
among those industries. Many fitness programs have been created, dvd’s
sold and books written. In our opinion, hiring a personal fitness trainer is
very expensive and has a recurring cost. Why hire a trainer when you can
buy a book or dvd set just once?!
For basic strength & fitness that you can do at home, we recommend
the following 25 minute routines:
Monday - Kettlebell Routine
Tuesday - T25 Alpha Cardio DVD
Wednesday - T25 Upper Body Focus – Beta DVD
Thursday - T25 Alpha Cardio DVD
Friday - Kettlebell Routine
Sat & Sun - Off
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Fugitive Recovery – Bail Enforcement International Security Training, LLC Page 16 of 65
View workout videos on YouTube.com as well. Finally, if finances
permit, train in a martial art that spends a minimum 50% of the time
standing and maximum 50% on the ground. Kenpo Jujitsu, Krav Maga and
Senshido are highly recommended over sport-focused MMA schools.
LOCATING YOUR FUGITIVE / SKIP TRACE PROCESS
The investigation process for finding a bail fugitive includes all the
activities you’ll work on from the moment you contract with the bondsman
until the moment you’re about to apprehend your fugitive. If we had to
break this process down into four steps, it may look like this:
1. Document review, completing & updating
2. Skip Tracing
3. Interviews & Pretexting
4. Online Investigation & Information Collection
Let’s look at each step individually…
Document Review, Completing & Updating
Here are the five most common forms that apply to a case:
1. Bail Application
2. Indemnitor Agreement and Promissory Note
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3. Bail Bond
4. Courtesy Surveillance Notification
5. Wanted Posters / Cards
The reason we mention ‘completing’ along with review and updating
is because many times bondsman are sloppy. If business is slow, they’re
more apt to take on a defendant without ensuring the bail application is
complete… and/or FACTUAL.
This is when your patience and experience comes into play. Your
mentor will cover this but may not use the same terms we do in this
course. So pay attention and always make sure the paperwork in your file
is good to go. Let’s get into the above mentioned forms a bit more.
The Bail Application should have the fugitive’s full name, address,
parents’ names and address, employment, best friend’s place of
employment, and many other pieces of information. Now, since some
defendant’s may lie (I know, hard to believe) on the forms… your skip
tracing skills will come in handy.
The application will normally be broken down into four parts:
1. Booking Information
2. Defendant Information
3. Defendant’s Family and Friends’ Information
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4. Indemnitor Information
What Is An Indemnitor?
Basically, an indemnitor is a cosigner. Most
bond companies will require an indemnitor before
bailing a bad guy out. If the bad guy fails to appear
for court and can’t be surrendered by the required
date… the indemnitor will be responsible for a
bunch of money. Some bondsmen even have the
indemnitor sign automobile titles or home deed
paperwork that states they’ll lose their car or house
should the defendant not appear. This really puts
them on YOUR SIDE when hunting a fugitive.
The Indemnitor Agreement and Promissory Note will contain all
the terms that basically put this person on the hook. I’ve heard of bond
companies really losing their butts because they bailed someone out
without an indemnitor or without verifying that the property used to secure
the promissory note actually BELONGED to the indemnitor.
A Bail Bond is the agreement executed between the county /
jurisdiction and the bail bondsman. It requires the bond company to pay
the entire cost of the bail if the bad guy does not appear in court. This is a
powerful document. That’s why it’s so important for bond companies to
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always have their indemnitor agreements and promissory notes secured by
property.
NOTE TO BOND COMPANIES: Ensure the property securing your
notes isn’t ‘over mortgaged’. If the indemnitor has a home… but
already has a first & second mortgage on the home… it may be
upside down and worthless to you should the defendant not appear
and run!
Skip Tracing
While we will provide an overview of the skip tracing process for you
in this course, we highly recommend you buy this book: “Skip Trace
Secrets: Dirty little tricks skip tracers use” by – Valerie McGilvrey.
That being said, here are the basic Skip Tracing steps:
1. Verify that the information is accurate. (Real name, DOB,
SSN, etc.)
a. Update missing info, updated info or info that as
intentionally false.
2. Contact the Indemnitor (skip trace if necessary)
3. Pretext or Interview as often as necessary
Family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc.
4. Develop leads and follow up
5. Record/document all information for re-review
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Interviews & Pretexting
What is pretexting? A pretext is a cover story. It’s like going under
cover for a short while. Many people refuse to talk to law enforcement or
bail agents. For this reason, we need to be slick. ☺ Remember, every
State is different so bail enforcement professionals should be familiar with
all laws pertaining to investigations & pretexts in their jurisdiction. Another
interesting point… women tend to be better at this than men. Why?
Maybe they’re not perceived as threatening. Maybe they have less ego.
Who knows… but this seems to be the case in the cases we’ve been
around.
Important Notes
1. Never represent yourself as a law enforcement officer, clergyman,
employee or member of an actual company.
2. Never use your real name or leave your telephone number.
3. Never pretext to gain information from financial institutions.
Cover Story / Pretext Ideas
1. Bank Fraud Employee – Asking If They Authorized A Large
Withdrawal (very high call back rate)
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2. Credit Card Company trying to verify unusual purchases or
spending (like bank fraud from above)
3. Package Delivery (Similar to UPS / FED EX)
4. Insurance settlement check
5. Unemployment benefits verification
6. Friend trying to reach defendant from jail
7. Friend of the defendant
8. Winning contest or sweepstakes entry
9. Calling about a job application or reference
10. Pizza Delivery
11. Trying to send him his tax forms or W-2’s from a prior
employer
12. Wishing him a Happy Birthday or other holiday greeting
13. Wedding invitation
14. Trying to find heirs of a dead relative
15. Calling about a vehicle for sale (either the defendant’s car
or yours)
16. Trying to return rent or utility deposit
17. High school or military reunion
Preparation is critical when using a cover story / pretext
1. Prepare answers – in advance - to questions that may come up
during your pretext operation.
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2. If your opening statement is well prepared and believable, it
sets the tone for a safe and successful result. “Good morning
ma’am, I’m with Acme Delivery, I have a package for Mrs.
Criminal, is she home?
3. Don’t try fake accents; they tend to make people suspicious.
4. Size up your contact quickly. Are they violent, nervous, or
evasive?
5. Never force the issue. If someone won’t talk, thank them and
leave. “I apologize if I’ve upset you ma’am… just trying to do
my job.”
6. If you find a person who is willing to share information, get
their phone number.
7. Doing this in person works out best. People tend to be more
suspicious with phone calls.
Speaking With The Indemnitor
The reason why this is Step 2 in the checklist from a few pages back
is because normally, the indemnitor is just as motivated to get the
defendant back into custody as you and the bondsman are.
Remember, if the bondsman was diligent in securing things… the
indemnitor will have to pay the entire amount of the bail if the bad guy
isn’t surrendered in time. Heck, they may lose money and even their home.
(If it was used to secure the bond) Co-signing is no small deal. In most
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cases, they will love or care for the defendant very much BUT they will not
be willing to lose everything because the defendant wants to avoid the law!
When speaking to the indemnitor, be caring and supportive. Don’t
try to act like a bad ass. A good way to introduce yourself would be; “Hi,
my name is ______. I’ve been retained to prevent you and the others
involved from losing money and becoming a victim because ______ didn’t
appear for court. Were you aware ______ never showed up?” Done in the
right tone, this will help create a helpful / service type of relationship with
them. I used the defendants first name when speaking to the co-signer
and try to keep things low key.
If the co-signer becomes defensive or unhelpful… just remind them
that you’re there to prevent them from losing anything due to ______’s
illegal behavior. Leave your business card (actual or pretext ) and be on
your way.
One piece of advice that you should remember is to NEVER threaten
to sue them or tell them they owe the bondsman money. This ‘could’ end
up being a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. That’s why
we recommend using the phrase above… “you’re there to prevent them
from losing anything due to ______’s illegal behavior”.
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SKIP TRACER’S CHECKLIST
PRE-INVESTIGATIVE CHECKS
1. Last known address
2. Find & contact (pretext) spouse
3. Interview (pretext) other relatives
Employment Records
4. Current employer
5. Previous employer
6. Emergency information
7. Friends / coworkers
8. Labor unions
9. Area companies with same type of work
10. Call, “pretext”, any provided telephone numbers
11. Telephone book (note any possible last - name relationships)
12. Directory assistance
a. by last name, first name or initial, spouse’s name and by
street
13. Reverse listing (online services) of provided / developed
phone numbers.
14. Telephone databases (online or cd)
a. by name
b. by address
c. note neighbors names and phone numbers
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Department of motor vehicles
15. Obtain driver’s license #
16. Types of vehicles owned and tag #’s
17. Possible trailer home ownership and description
18. Obtain date of birth
19. Address information
* Most of this information should be able to be found on the bail
application. Now, the accuracy of the info provided… that could be a
different story. ☺
NOTE: For local, federal, etc. courthouse records… first see if they have a
website that you can search. The time saved may be the difference
between finding your fugitive or not. Use your mentors guidance in this
area of skip tracing.
Courthouse Records Check (County Recorder’s Office)
20. Criminal - misdemeanor, felony, and traffic civil suits
21. Marriage licenses
22. Divorce (sometimes separate from civil suits)
23. Voter’s registration (great source of information)
24. Occupational licenses
25. Probate records
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Federal courthouse
26. Criminal
27. Civil suits
28. Bankruptcy records
29. Secretary of state
30. UCC filings
31. Corporate filings
Law enforcement
32. Local police or sheriff’s department
33. Hunting/ fishing licenses
34. Boat registration (Local, Coast Guard, etc.)
35. Jail check in surrounding counties
36. Neighbors interviewed
37. Current occupant
38. Landlord contacted (pretexted)
39. Post office change of address/ forwarding address
40. Real estate agent
41. Local moving companies
42. Local area merchants
43. Utilities (deposits)
a. cable company
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b. electric company
c. gas company
d. phone company
e. water company
f. trash service
Financial
44. Credit header information
45. Creditors
46. Debtors
Possible home business
47. Local pin-up boards
48. Trade magazines
Other various checks/ sources
49. Church
50. Organizations
51. Schools
52. Library (newspaper articles & obituaries)
53. Appropriate military locator services
54. If the subject is receiving checks… follow the check!
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Finding Homeless Defendants
1. Get paid daily / temporary employment centers
2. Salvation Army locations
3. Churches and church-sponsored locations, including "soup
kitchens"
4. Privately funded charity organizations
5. YMCAs, YWCAs, etc.
6. Bus or train stations
7. Plasma centers that purchase blood from donors
8. Day-worker pickup locations where they can obtain labor jobs
lot a short period
9. Common street locations where transients frequent:
10. Parks, bridges, highway overpasses, etc (protection from
the elements)
Conducting Interviews
Whenever you’re interviewing a person, remember to treat every
encounter as a potentially dangerous situation. We’ve collected a bunch of
questions and included them below. The answers to those questions are
the information you will need… but don’t think you have to act like a TV
reporter. Be conversational whenever possible.
If you’re pretexting your approach will be very different than if you’re
upfront about who you are and interviewing a person.
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A Short List Of Questions To Consider:
1. “Do you know this person?” (Show them a picture)
2. “How do you know this person?”
3. “When was the last time you saw him?”
4. “Do you know where he is right now?”
5. “Where does he live?”
6. “When did he move?”
7. “Where did he say he was moving?”
8. “Where does he work?”
9. “What kind of car does he drive?”
10. “What color is the car?”
11. “Why would he look different than this photo?”
12. “Who is his girlfriend?”
13. “What kind of car does she drive?”
14. “Where have you seen him in town?”
15. “How do you normally contact him?”
16. “Who else do you know that might know where this
person is?”
17. “If you were in my shoes, how would you go about
locating this person?”
In order to get the answers to the above questions, try to ask open-
ended questions… and not questions that can be answered with a YES or
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NO. Once a little rapport is developed and you can get a person talking…
look out! ☺
Online Investigation & Information Collection
In general, there are three types of information you will need to find
a reliable source for:
1. Current and Historical Telephone Information
2. Credit Headers and Consumer Credit Reports
3. Motor Vehicle Registration and Licensing Information
We will also discuss phone based skip tracing systems and a few
other tricks of the trade.
Current Telephone Information
“Information” (411)
Ask for the phone number of your fugitive, his spouse / girlfriend, or
children. Don’t forget to try variations on the names as well.
Reverse Info Request
Ask the 411 operator, “if you give them the number… can they give
you the name & address of the party?” or…
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If you give them an address, can they give you a name and phone
number?
Historical Telephone Information
This information can be found on CD’s and more recently on online
databases. Call your local office supply stores like Office Depot or
OfficeMax and ask if they sell them. Since the CD’s are slowly being
replaced by online services… call the stores first. Don’t waste gas driving
around. ☺
Credit Headers and Consumer Credit Reports
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) states who can get this
information and for what permissible purposes the requests are allowed
for. In general, if you have a permissible purpose to gain access to a
credit header, you will also have a permissible purpose to garner the entire
report. Anyone found accessing credit information without a permissible
purpose will face very severe fines levied by the Federal Trade
Commission. The first search should be done using the social security
number listed on the bail application. Your mentor should be able to show
you how they access and use these reports.
The “credit header” is the segment of a Consumer Credit Report that
lists all non-financially related information about a consumer and typically
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only includes identification information. Information that it may contain
typically includes:
1. Full Name, (Including Maiden and Aliases, etc.)
2. Current and Previously Reported Addresses
3. Social Security Number
4. Date of Birth
5. Spouse’s Name, if applicable
A Consumer Credit Report will contain the header as well as reported
financial information including:
1. Employer (Sometimes Past and Present)
2. Public Information (Including Civil Suits and Bankruptcies)
3. Creditors and Amount of Credit Extended (Loans, Credit Cards,
etc)
4. Credit Inquiries (Companies who have recently examined the
credit file)
Consumer credit files are compiled by three different credit reporting
agencies (CRA): Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. Try to obtain
“TriMerge” reports. They combine all of the information from the 3
bureaus and will typically discard duplicate or overlapping information.
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Now, pulling this information will be next to impossibe (legally
speaking) unless the bond company that posted the defendants bail had
the defendant agree to this access permission… when they applied for bail.
Ask the bond companies you work with (your clients) if they have a
credit report permission section in there bond application. If they do, read
it. If they don’t, show them the one below and see if you can get them to
insert this simple paragraph into their bail contracts. If they agree… it will
make it extremely easy to access full credit reports.
“I authorize (name of the bond company)
and/or assigns to have access to and inspect my full
consumer credit report, including all financial data,
at any time hereafter as it will be used in
connection with this legitimate business transaction,
initiated by me, to determine whether I continue to
meet the terms of our agreement, in prevention or
investigation of breach of our contract and/or
review and collection in the event of a bond
forfeiture. I also authorize the above named entities
to have access to and inspect any other record,
including Department of Motor Vehicles Reports,
Criminal History Reports and Civil Case information,
for the same reasons.”
Immediately under this paragraph, the defendant should have a
place to sign. Do not include a place for a date. This will prevent a hassle
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should ever attempt to gain access to these records and your information
broker hesitates because the agreement is over a year old.
Motor Vehicle Department
Knowing that a Social Security Number is the key to a credit report;
we need to remember that the key to locating a Motor Vehicle Registration
(MVR) report is the name and date of birth. Now, some states do not have
public disclosure of MVR data. If this is the situation where you operate…
you will need a Law Enforcement connection to get the information.
Once you have the above reports, the first thing you’ll want to do is
compare the information the defendant provided on the bail application
with the information reported on the Credit or MVR reports.
An old skip-tracing trick that you can use involves mailing letters. For
the cost of a stamp, send mail to the last few addresses that you have for
the defendant. On the front of the envelope write “DO NOT FORWARD
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED”. In a few weeks you may receive a
new forwarding address for the fugitive! When using this technique you
must include a pretext so that, in the event the defendant does receive the
mail piece, they do not become suspicious.
One great trick involves asking the defendant to call your “1-800”
number, which is a trap-line, for an urgent message. We will discuss
phone based skip tracing techniques in the next section.
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PHONE-BASED SKIP TRACING TECHNIQUES
Phone-based techniques can be used in a variety of ways to assist
you in many different types of cases. These ticks definitely cost a lot less
than databases through the life of a single investigation. In addition to
their lower cost compared to computer-based databases, a phone-based
technique also provides more accurate information. Smart phone apps can
be downloaded that can do all the things listed below. Some are free…
others have a small cost. Be sure to research!
Definitions
Blindline:
A blindline is an outgoing line that outsmarts any attempt to trace
your call (We use Google Voice for this). It outsmarts Caller ID, Last Call
Redial, and even blocked numbers. A blindline should allow you to call 800
numbers without being traced. The most useful feature of a superior
blindline service is the ability to identify your name and number on a Caller
ID with a fictitious or pretext name associated with a Trapline.
For example, if you make a call to a defendant with Caller ID, his unit
will display the trapline number and the name “Courier Service” or some
other name that you regularly prefer to use while making pretext phone
calls.
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Trapline:
A trapline is an incoming line that works exactly like Caller ID except
that it cannot be blocked (for practical purposes). It uses basically the
same technology as the “911” emergency service to identify the originating
telephone number (no addresses).
First, use your blindline to make all pretext calls. Your blindline works
in conjunction with your trapline and displays that number when you wish.
You can call through the blindline when using a cell phone too. It is very
easy to leave a brief message for our defendant (or his wife!) asking him to
call you as soon as possible to arrange for a package pickup or delivery.
Most of the time will be calling a relative or friend of the fugitive, but the
messages always seem to get to them and more often than not… they will
return the phone call. Then, go to work to identify who owns the telephone
number and the address with which it is associated.
Most industry experts recommend that bond companies use a
trapline as their check-in line. If a client checks in with the bondsman, but
eventually fails to appear for his court date, you can go back through the
client’s records, note the day and time of the call and research his trapline
reports to figure out the phone numbers he had called from.
SURVEILLANCE DEFINITIONS
Mobile Surveillance:
Mobile surveillance is commonly known as tailing or shadowing. A
mobile surveillance can be conducted by foot or vehicle and can be a
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combination of the two. The choice depends on the subject's movement
activity.
Fixed Surveillance:
Fixed surveillance is known as a stakeout. A stakeout is used when
the subject is stationary or when all the important information can be
learned at one place. But even for a stakeout, a surveillant may remain
mobile, moving from one vantage point to another. He or she may want to
move around for closer observation of the area or the subject. If there is
more than one exit, a surveillant may have to move about quite a bit just
to keep the exits covered.
Covert Surveillance:
Surveillance is where the agent’s goal is NOT to be discovered by the
subject.
Overt Surveillance
Surveillance where the agent’s goal IS to be discovered by the
subject. An overt surveillance is used when it is useful to let the subject
know he or she is being observed. For example, a nervous indemnitor or
cosigner, made aware that he is being followed, may become anxious and
do something beneficial to your assignment while being followed or
watched (like calling the bondsman with the fugitive’s location to get you
to back off).
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Loose Surveillance
A loose surveillance can be used to spot-check a defendant’s last
known address or a family member’s residence. A loose surveillance is
broken if the suspect seems to suspect he is being observed.
Close Surveillance
A close surveillance requires continued alertness on the part of the
surveillant.
Combination Surveillance
For some investigations, a combination of methods works best. The
bail enforcement agent may need to move from a loose to a close
surveillance because of an act or a contact by a subject under surveillance.
Surveillance can be painful. Sitting in a car for a long time can cause
boredom as well as physical pain. Remember to be PATIENT. Bring meal
bars or snacks. Bring water but don’t drink too much. This will reduce the
amount of bathroom breaks you’ll need to take. Having a partner will also
make this part easier because you can relieve each other for breaks.
Create a surveillance plan. Preprinted outlines work great for this
purpose but are not necessary. Please remember to also keep a log! This
will help with planning the surveillance as well as documenting it. The plan
may state general concepts of operations and duties. It may coordinate
actions. The actions of two or more surveillants must always be
coordinated. Ensure each surveillant learns every part of the plan!
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Now, here’s an irritating part of the job. While on surveillance, you
will be contacted by law enforcement every once in a while. Why?
Sometimes concerned homeowners will call in a suspicious vehicle. Other
times, the bad guys or their friends & family will call the police on a
suspicious vehicle. This way they can watch from a distance and learn who
is watching them. Fugitives and the people in their circles are not always
dumb. Many times they conduct counter surveillance on law enforcement
and bail enforcement.
You can minimize the number of times Police question you by
submitting a “Courtesy Surveillance Notification” form.
Most of the time, I fax the form in. Sometimes I drop it off as I
arrive in the city / town where I’ll be conducting the surveillance. Keep a
copy of the form you submit on your person along with the fax
confirmation page (or name of person you gave it to). This isn’t a
guarantee you won’t be contacted but it will minimize it. Also – submitting
this form and providing a copy of it to an Officer who does contact you will
make your life a whole lot easier.
Don’t trespass on private property… don’t lie to the Police about why
you’re there… and don’t argue with Police Officers. Following these two
rules will help keep YOU out of jail.
Form - COURTESY SURVEILLANCE NOTIFICATION
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Selecting Your Surveillance Vehicle:
When selecting your surveillance vehicle, there will be four main
attributes to consider:
1. Blends Well
a. Don’t use vehicles that look like cop cars or Dog The
Bounty Hunters SUV.
b. Turn off or disconnect the dome light of the car. This will
keep the light from showing when the door opens.
c. Disconnect daytime running lights if your vehicle has
them.
d. No black, white or red vehicles.
i. Blues & grays blend the best
2. Windows Are Tinted
a. Many states have different laws pertaining to how dark
you can go. Select the tint that is as dark as the law
allows in your local area.
b. Put up a sun shade when sitting in the vehicle watching
your target.
3. Runs Well
a. No clunkers, smoking exhausts or loud vehicles.
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4. Comfortable
Vehicles & Pretexting
Earlier in the course we spent a lot of time discussing the art of ‘pre-
texting’. Doesn’t it make sense that you should have a cover story when
conducting surveillance? The two best cover stories we’ve observed in
action are (1) Survey Crew and (2) Utility Contractor.
Remember to get in and stay in character with your cover story.
Make sure your clothes match the story and make sure you speak and
behave in character. Also, go to VistaPrint.com and create some magnetic
vehicle signs that match your cover story.
Methods Of Tailing A Vehicle
Rule #1 Of Surveillance = Obey All Laws
You are never justified in breaking laws (speeding, running red lights,
etc) to follow a vehicle. If you lose the target, you can catch up with them
another time. A bounty hunter is never justified in crossing the line of
legality in the pursuit of a fugitive.
Are They On To You?
In most cases, probably not. Here are two important facts. (1) Most
people pay very little attention to their surroundings. (2) Most people have
no idea how surveillance is conducted. I mean really, do you pay attention
to the cars that are 4 to 5 vehicles behind you… two lanes over? Most
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people don’t. So – relax. Of course, we get burned every once in a while
when following someone but not nearly as often as you think. For some
reason when we’re just starting out, we feel like “we’ve been made” far
more often than we really are. This nervousness is normal.
Signs They May Be Aware You’re Following Them
1. They are looking in the rear-view mirror and side mirrors more
than normal.
2. They’re actually looking behind them by turning their heads.
(Checking blind spots, etc.)
3. They slow their vehicle at odd times. (Of course, this may be
an indication or it may simply mean that they’re looking for an
address.)
4. They overtly try to lose you or irritate you.
Whenever possible, conduct an advance / area recon prior to the
surveillance. Also, be sure to have a Navigator App installed on your smart
phone / tablet in addition to a local area map in the car.
One & Multiple Vehicle Surveillance Thoughts
While we obviously want to remain far enough away that we’re not
seen by the bad guy… we need to stay close enough to see the vehicle and
also what the occupants are doing inside.
If you’re tailing someone alone (one car) and the target car turns a
corner you have two choices.
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1. Keep going straight, cross the intersecting street, and make a
U-shaped turn. In most cases, the target will not be alarmed by
a car turning into the street behind him from a direction
opposite to the way he was going before he made his turn.
2. Go straight, cross the intersecting street, and then go around
the block. The target will not be alarmed of a car coming from
the front.
If you have a couple vehicles, you’ll have many more cool options for
working your surveillance. This way you and your partner can both follow
your target and swap places as desired. For example, you could remain
behind the subject while your partner drives slightly ahead of him. Your
partner could radio when and where the target has turned. At this point
you would then pick up the "close" position, and eventually pass the target
and take a position ahead of the subject. Repeat when needed. ☺
Your mentor will show you their favorite surveillance methods. In
addition, ride with other hunters or Private Bail agents. You can always
learn more… even if your ego says ‘you know everything.’
Locating & Developing Informants
One instructor tells a story about how a famous bounty hunter once
said, “My feeling is that out of ten people in anyone’s life, three will love
him, three will dislike him, and four won’t give a damn.” The way I look at
it… that gives you 10 opportunities to find the defendant!
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Think about it! If you can find the three people who dislike the
defendant, it is typically pretty easy to convince them to tell you where he
is, if they know. Of course, you may have to throw a little money their
way but it’s a fair exchange in most cases!
Now, the four people who do not care are typically easy to pretext
and will generally give up whatever information you need or that they
might have. Because they are neutral, they are not suspicious. These four
individuals may also give up whatever information they may have, when
offered a cash reward and the promise of confidentiality. Remember #1 -
NEVER disclose the identity of your informant(s).
Lastly, the three who love the fugitive (with the notable exception of
a spouse or boy/girlfriend) will tell you where the bad guy is located under
the premise that you are acting in the defendant’s best interest or to avoid
any perceived legal action… especially if they secured the Bond!
Most of the times you will be nice yet sometimes you’ll have to be
more stern and remind people of the legal consequences of harboring a
fugitive. When you find your bad guy… they will want to know how you
found them and ask you who or where you obtained your information.
Never tell them! Simply smile and tell them in a humorous way, “It’s what
you do for a living.” Nothing more!
Rule #2 - NEVER tell the bondsman you’re working for or anyone
outside of the profession how you found the fugitive! If they tease you or
try to give you a hard time, just remind them it’s unprofessional to give
that info… next topic. Then, move on.
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Creating Wanted Posters & Cards
“Wanted posters / cards” are extremely effective tools used to
develop information and to create leverage with the defendant’s family and
friends. This leverage comes from the embarrassment of having a family
member see the defendant all over their own neighborhood and having to
suffer the indignity of having “family business” exposed. They will call you
yelling & screaming or they will call with information just to get the posters
taken down.
With the high quality printing services available online now (i.e.
VistaPrint.com), creating the Wanted Cards can be done very quickly. You
can create a poster on your computer and print them at your office or use
a Kinko’s or Office Max copy store near you.
Post these wanted posters/cards around any and all neighborhoods
that your fugitive may be associated. Include what they’re charged with
and offer a reward for information. Make sure the family and boy/girlfriend
see them. Additionally, try to get them posted at the local area
convenience stores. The embarrassment will become unbearable.
Excellent Sample Posters & Cards Can Be Found In…
Are Wanted Posters & Cards Slander?
No! Slander involves the following:
1. Making patently false statements
2. Knowing that they are untrue, and
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3. Likely to cause damage to someone's reputation
To post a "wanted poster / card" stating that someone is being
sought on a Sexual Assault warrant is not saying that he is a rapist. It
states a statement of a true fact. He has a warrant and there are specific
charges against him. Both things can be proven.
Quick Wrap Up Of The Topic!
Successfully locating the fugitive will happen as a result of a
systematic and organized approach using all of the legal methods available.
These tools include:
1. Information provided to the bondsman by the defendant
2. Online / computer databases
3. The cosigner
4. Public records
5. Wanted Posters
6. Pretexting
7. Interviewing
8. Informants
9. Surveillance
Now we’re ready for the apprehension of this fugitive… and then
getting paid!
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FUGITIVE APPREHENSION
Prior to Apprehending The Fugitive
Make sure you have your documents… and make sure they are
correctly filled out! I know every state is different but let’s look at the
basics.
1. Written authorization from the surety on the bail bond authorizing
the arrest of the principal and empowering you to act as his agent
2. Contract Agreement for Surety Services
3. Certified copy of the bail bond
4. Certified copy of the warrant indicating “a failure to appear” or bond
forfeiture
Form Needed To Get Paid After You Turn Fugitive Over To Authorities
1. Certificate of Surrender by Bondsman
a. The Certificate of Surrender is the form you will need to have
the jail or law enforcement officer sign when you surrender the
defendant to his custody. The bondsman will use this receipt as
proof that you completed your assignment and to exonerate
himself of the responsibility of that bail bond.
Certified copies of the arrest warrant and the bail bond can be found
at the local courthouse or at the sheriff's office. Perhaps the most
important document mentioned above is the Authorization to Arrest
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Defendant. No matter what else you have heard or have been told, this
form is where all bail enforcement agents derive their authority to do this
job. Without the surety’s authorization you could be arrested yourself!
Form - AUTHORIZATION TO ARREST DEFENDANT
Recommended Equipment For Bail Enforcement
1. Handcuffs
a. Extra Handcuff Keys (Buy longer keys)
2. Leg Irons
3. Belly/Waist Chain & Black Box
4. Pepper spray
5. Stun gun
6. Taser
7. Cell Phone (Smart Phone or Tablet)
8. Local Street Map (In case your Navigation App fails)
9. Laptop & Internet Air Card
10. Flashlight
11. Body armor / Bulletproof vest
12. Handgun
13. Radios
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14. ID Jacket & Badge (per State legal requirements)
15. Business Cards ID and Pretext Use
16. Orange Overalls with “Fugitive” printed on front and back
a. (for the longer extradition trips)
17. Pretext Magnetic Signs for Vehicle (Cover story)
Concealed Carry Weapons Permit
First things first, always remember that a bounty hunter is no more
than a civilian allowed to bring a defendant back into custody. This does
not automatically grant you the right to carry a firearm, open or concealed.
State laws will dictate who can carry and how. Here’s a great
website that offers many resources on the topic:
http://www.usacarry.com/ Also, do an internet search for ‘your state
concealed weapon laws’.
Now, just because you may be allowed to carry… doesn’t mean you
should 100% of the time. Attend CCW training for your area and also get
advice from your bail enforcement mentor.
The last thing you want is to be charged with (1) brandishing a
firearm, (2) failure to conceal, (3) concealing without a permit or worse.
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Identification of the Bail Enforcement Agent
Like the CCW laws, in most cases, State Law will also cover how
bounty hunters should identify themselves. Now, your mentor will
obviously share their experience with you but I still want you to personally
review the laws in your area. I’ve seen many security companies and bail
enforcement agents wearing badges & patches that were strictly prohibited
by law. Why were they wearing these items? Because “we’ve always done
it that way” they stated. Stay current and review the laws in your area at
least once a year.
The goal is to look professional and appropriate for the type of
contact you’re making. If the police roll up and see you scuffling with a
bad guy… you’ll want them to be able to know why you’re there by simply
looking at your clothing.
Working with Law Enforcement
Some departments will assist bail enforcement while others do not.
Contact your local department’s community action officer and develop a
positive working relationship. Find out what their experience has been with
bail enforcement agents in the past. Be the professional that they want to
work with!
If they do help bail enforcement, don’t call them unless you are
personally 100% sure the fugitive is at a specific location! If the
police/deputies come out and the fugitive is not there, they will be pissed
off and won’t forget the call out.
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Apprehending the Defendant
Rule #1 – Remember, any apprehension even for the most minor
fugitives/charges, can become deadly.
Rule #2 – Always check the status of the warrant / bond forfeiture
one last time, immediately before the apprehension. The last thing you
want is to be arrested for (1) kidnapping (2) false arrest (3) assault (4)
trespassing or more.
Two methods of apprehension:
1. Rush in & surprise
2. Walk up & state your intention
Thoughts about the approach & contact:
1. Address the fugitive by name
2. Identify yourself in a loud clear voice
3. Tell the fugitive / friends and family that you have a warrant
4. Apprehend the defendant & put in handcuffs
5. Use the minimum amount of force necessary to control the fugitive &
protect yourself.
6. Explain the charges and situation
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7. Search the fugitive thoroughly. Have a partner search them also.
Don’t let your ego get in the way of finding weapons and contraband.
Search fugitive on the ground either kneeling or face down. You can
quickly subdue them in this position if the need arises.
8. NEVER leave minors alone! Find a responsible adult to take
responsibility for them. If you can’t, call law enforcement for
guidance / help.
9. When searching, use the “grab and scrunch method”. Don’t be shy
about searching everywhere, including females. (If you are left with
no other choice and don’t have a female partner).
10. Handcuff the fugitive palms out… cuffs double-locked. The only
exceptions you’ll make are in cases of pregnancy, injuries, etc.
Turning The Fugitive Over To The Authorities
Transport the fugitive to the jail you are required to book them into.
This is done in the “Booking or Intake Department”. Most jurisdictions will
classify this as a “bond surrender” or “self-surrender.” The jailer will then
confirm the warrant… and take the fugitive into custody. Remember to
have your “Certificate of Surrender” signed by the jailer.
Use of Force Definitions
Less Than Lethal Force:
Less than lethal force is that force which is unlikely, when properly
used, to result in serious physical injury or death.
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Lethal Force:
Lethal force is that force likely to cause serious physical injury or
death.
Use of Force Continuum:
A Use of Force Continuum is a visual representation of force options
designed to facilitate an understanding of appropriate levels of force.
The standard for evaluating a bail agent's use of force claims shall be
“reasonableness” under the facts and circumstances known to the agent at
the time. Incident reviewers must recognize that staff are expected to
make split-second decisions and that the amount of time available to
evaluate and respond to a situation may impact the decision.
Examples of things that may affect a person’s force option selection
may include:
1. Agent / Defendant factors (age, size, relative strength, skill
level, injury/exhaustion, number of agents present on scene
versus number of additional subjects)
2. Influence of drugs or alcohol
3. Proximity to weapons
4. Availability of other force options
5. Seriousness of the offense committed by the fugitive
6. Other pressing circumstances
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Actions of Defendant
7. Cooperative: Subject is cooperative and complies with verbal
commands or other directions.
8. Cooperative, Non-Responsive or Uncooperative: Subject is
cooperative when taken into custody, or fails to respond to
verbal commands or other directions.
9. Passive or Low Level Resistance: Subject is passively or
defensively resisting direction. Includes verbal or physical cues
of non-compliance.
10. Active Resistance or Aggression: Subject is attempting to
interfere with the bail agent’s actions by inflicting pain or
physical injury to the bail agent without the use of a
weapon or object.
11. Assault or Threat of Assault: Subject assumes a fighting
stance, charges an bail agent or verbally or physically
indicates the intent to commit an assault.
12. Life Threatening Assault or Assault Likely to Cause Great
Bodily Harm: Subject commits an attack using an object,
a weapon, or an empty hand assault, wherein the agent
reasonably believes that the assault will result in serious
physical injury and/or death.
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Force Options
Professional / Command Presence
Your body language, demeanor, and manner of approaching.
Verbal
Verbalization involves the direction, and commands given to the
subject.
Soft Hand Techniques
Restraining and detaining includes an bail agent laying hands
on a subject with the intention of gaining control of the subject.
Examples include the use of a firm grip, escort position or
grappling types of techniques designed to hold a subject down
by using the weight of an agent's body. Also included in this
level would be the application of temporary restraining devices
such as handcuffs and leg restraints.
Hard Hand Techniques
Includes joint manipulations, pressure point techniques, take-
downs and the use of stun weapons and Tasers.
Lethal Force
Includes the use of a firearm or any force, which has a
reasonable likelihood of causing death or serious physical harm.
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Remember, you are NOT a law enforcement officer. You’re a civilian.
If you’re in doubt about how you should handle a violent subject, back off
and call law enforcement for assistance.
Transporting Your Fugitive
Vehicle Inspection
Prior to and after transporting, ensure the vehicle is inspected and
that equipment is in place and nothing is damaged.
1. Safety divider cage
2. All windows
3. Outer door handles
4. Rear seat door handles
5. Window controls deactivated (“child safety locks” if available)
6. Search interior for weapons / contraband
Handcuffing / Use of Restraints
1. Handcuff fugitives with their hands behind their back and palms
facing outward. Double-lock if equipped.
2. You may handcuff with hands in front in cases where the fugitive:
a. is pregnant
b. has a physical handicap
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c. has injuries that could be aggravated by normal handcuffing
procedures.
3. Use discretion in handcuffing juveniles. May use restraints necessary
to control unruly or potentially violent juveniles of any age.
4. Fugitives shall not be handcuffed to any part of the vehicle during
transport.
5. Do NOT restrain via a prone position (hog-tie).
Transport
1. Prior to transporting, all fugitives shall be thoroughly searched for
any weapons or contraband.
a. The search should be conducted by a person of the same sex
as the Fugitive whenever possible. If not possible, conduct the
search and explain the situation in the apprehension report.
b. The transporting bail agent should search the fugitive
regardless of searches that may or may not have been
conducted by other people.
2. Unless accompanied by a female agent, male agents should not
normally transport females in custody. Contact local law
enforcement.
3. Males & females should be separated during transport.
4. Juveniles shall not be transported with adult fugitives.
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5. Special procedures shall be used when transporting high-risk fugitives
or when traveling long distances:
a. Waist chains & black box should be used with handcuffs.
6. Prior to heading out, the bail agent shall call the receiving jail’s
communications center with the following information when possible:
a. Name of defendant and the arrest location.
b. Time and mileage readings before and after transport of a
female.
7. Fugitives shall be transported in a manner that allows for constant
visual observation. Seating of bail agents and Fugitives should
conform to the following:
a. When the vehicle has a safety divider cage but only one
transporting agent, the Fugitive shall be placed in the back seat
on the right-hand side of the vehicle.
b. When the vehicle is not equipped with a safety divider cage and
has only one transporting agent, the Fugitive shall be placed in
the right front seat.
c. When a Fugitive is being transported in a two-agent vehicle
without a safety divider cage, the fugitive shall be placed in the
right rear seat. The second bail agent shall sit in the left rear
seat behind the driver.
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d. Leg restraints & belly chain w/black box shall be used when a
bail agent believes the fugitive has a potential for violent
behavior.
e. One transporting agent should not attempt to transport more
than one fugitive in a vehicle without a security barrier. In
these situations, they should request law enforcement
assistance.
f. All fugitives shall be secured in the vehicle by proper use of a
seat belt.
8. The physical well-being of Fugitives shall be monitored during transit.
Particular attention shall be directed to persons reported or
suspected of being under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol or
who have a history or propensity for violence.
a. Fugitives who report / display symptoms of serious illness
during transit shall be turned over to the nearest law
enforcement officer for handling.
b. Escorting bail agents shall remain with the defendant at all
times unless relieved by other authorized personnel and a
custody form obtained.
9. Symptoms or reports of physical or mental illness (such as threats of
suicide or psychotic behavior) shall be reported to the booking
officer.
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10. Any wheelchairs, crutches, prosthetic devices, and medication
should be transported with, but not in the possession of, the
Fugitive.
11. Fugitives shall not be left unattended during transport at any
time.
12. Bail agents shall not engage in any other activities while
transporting Fugitives unless failure to act would risk death or
serious bodily injury to another. In non-life-threatening yet
serious situations, bail agents should call for emergency law
enforcement assistance and may remain on-hand until such
assistance has arrived.
13. Any escape shall be immediately reported to law enforcement
authorities together with a complete description of the fugitive,
mode and direction of travel, crime, and propensity for violence
if known.
STARTING A BOUNTY HUNTING BUSINESS
It is highly recommended that the first year of a person’s bail
enforcement career is spent as an employee. You can search for a job as
either an employee of a Bondsman Company or an employee of a Bail
Enforcement Agent. Your title may be assistant, runner, bail specialist, bail
runner, etc.
Prior to applying for a job however, it’s recommended that you create
or update your LinkedIn profile. If you’re not licensed yet, list your current
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job title as Bail Bond Assistant, Bail Enforcement Assistant or Bail Bond
Specialist, Bail Enforcement Specialist. Just don’t use the titles that your
State uses for a Bounty Hunter. Also, upload a professional looking picture
to your profile. Don’t upload a military type picture with you holding two
pistols, a martial art fighting pic, or some other juvenile looking picture.
LinkedIn is NOT a Facebook environment.
Create a professional blog and post a short article or link to another
article at least weekly. When creating your blog, you’ll be asked to title it.
Your title should be something that lets readers know where you operate
and what industry you’re in. Here are some examples:
1. Phoenix Arizona Bail Specialists
2. Phoenix Arizona Bail Bond Information
3. Phoenix Arizona Bail Bond Enforcement News
4. and so on.
Do not title it something aggressive like: Killer
Bounty Hunters, Elite Forces Bail Runners, etc.
There are two reasons for this. One, you want to
appear professional and not like a testosterone
laden fighter looking for a quick payday. Second,
the search engines number one way of finding
websites and blogs is via the title. Find and read
blogs within the security industry and try to model
the best ones you find.
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Search YouTube for the following:
• LinkedIn Tutorial
• Blog Writing Tutorial
The tutorials will help you create a very professional web presence.
Now when you apply for an entry level job in the industry, share your
LinkedIn profile and blog information with the interviewer. Your potential
employers will know you’re serious and not just a “fad applicant” or
someone who’s not serious about this.
Contacting Bail Bond Companies & Creating Your Top 100 List
You’re going to want to get acquainted with Bail Bond Companies &
Attorneys (also called sureties) that operate in your area. A surety is
anyone that writes a bond. This is NOT the same as the person who
secured the bond (indemnitor). One way to do that is by using a two-step
relationship technique. The first step is an Introduction Letter to 100
contacts and the second step is to send those same contacts a monthly
Post Card.
Go to your local office supply store and buy mailing labels. Most
labels come with a Word template so you can type the addresses on your
computer… and then print on the labels. How do you find the addresses?
Go to the Yellow pages and look up “Bail”… then look for the companies &
attorneys. Still can’t find many? Contact your local jail and ask them to
fax you their list of bail bond companies. Find 100 companies/attorneys
and type their names & addresses on the mailing labels.
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Most sheets of labels have 33 labels on them so you’ll need to type
and save 4 pages. The key word here is SAVE. You will only want to type
these addresses out once.
In Appendix B of Rex Venator’s book “Modern Bounty Hunting”, he
has created a boiler plate letter that you can use when contacting Bail
Companies. Ensure you add your LinkedIn profile & blog web addresses to
the header or footer of your intro letter. Mail out your 100 letters.
About 15 days after you mail out your intro letters, go to
VistaPrint.com (or a similar site) and browse their postcards. They have
VERY professional looking cards that you can create, customize and order.
About 30 days after you mail out your 100 intro letters, send out a
marketing post card. Like the letter, ensure your LinkedIn profile & blog
web address are printed on the post card.
Finally, use VistaPrint.com to order professional looking business
cards also. The mailings will occur monthly, so you need to set aside some
money for your marketing costs.
Get a free phone number from Google Voice. This is the phone
number you’ll want to include on all of your marketing materials. Never
put your actual cell phone or landline number on them.
Interviewing
It may take a while but your phone will eventually start ringing or
you’ll begin getting emails from people who want find out more about you
and possibly hire you. When you interview… dress and speak
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professionally! Remember, the bondsman wants to hire a bail agent who
will protect the bondsman reputation AND catch the bad guy.
When you get a call and are asked to interview with a bondsman, be
calm, professional, confident yet not arrogant. If you’re brand new and
the certificate you’ve earned from this course is all you have, don’t expect
the bondsman to be super impressed and hire you on the spot. They will
in most cases be skeptical of you. Why? Their entire business depends on
them hiring or contracting with intelligent people who can get the job done
without bringing liability issues to the table.
When speaking with a bondsman, ensure you let them know that you
understand their situation and that your goal is to represent them in a
most professional way. That will keep them in the good graces of law
enforcement, the courts, and even the fugitives and their families.
Sometimes bondsman will bail out the same person many times of many
members of the same family. This “repeat business” can occur only if the
bondsman and bounty hunters they employ treat EVERYONE (even the
fugitives) with respect.
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INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AND RESOURCES
(1) Book – “Modern Bounty Hunting”
by Rex Venator
(2) Book – “Skip Trace Secrets: Dirty little tricks skip tracers use”
by Valerie McGilvrey
^ Amazon.com normally has the best price for both of these books! ^
(3) http://FugitiveRecovery.com
– Fugitive Recovery Network
(4) http://www.ExpertBail.com/resources/bail-industry-news
- National Bail Bond Network
(5) http://pbus.com/index.cfm
- Professional Bail Agents of the United States