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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!”



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

LinkedIn

Create A Website & Blog

Contacting Bail Bond Companies



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.



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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,



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.



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)



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



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.



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?



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



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



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



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



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



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)



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.



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



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”.



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



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



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



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!



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.



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



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…



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



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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).



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!



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



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.



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



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.



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!



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.



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



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!



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



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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.



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

fugitive recovery & bail enforcement specialist …...a lot of times when the bondsman and the...

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