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Bounty Hunter Legal States 2023

Bounty Hunter Legal States 2023

Bounty Hunter Legal States 2023

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State
Bounty Hunting Legality
License Required
Notes
AlabamaLegalNo
AlaskaLegalYes
ArizonaLegalYes
ArkansasLegalYesOnly licensed professional bail bondsmen and their authorized agents are allowed to engage in bounty hunting.
CaliforniaLegalYes
ColoradoLegalYes
ConnecticutLegalYesBounty hunting is legal in Connecticut, but there are restrictions and regulations surrounding the practice. According to Connecticut state law, a bail enforcement agent (bounty hunter) must be employed by a Connecticut licensed bail bond agent or surety bail bond agent.
DelawareLegalYes
District of ColumbiaLegalYes
FloridaLegalBail AgentUnder current Florida statutes, bounty hunters, or runners as they are known in Florida, are required to be licensed as bail agents. Without a bail agent license, bounty hunting is now strictly prohibited in the state.
GeorgiaLegalBail Recovery AgentGeorgia allows the practice of bounty hunting but does not use the term “bounty hunter” in its statutes. Instead, those employed in the capacity of fugitive recovery are known in the state as bail recovery agents.
HawaiiLegalYesHawaii allows the practice of bounty hunting and has few laws regulating bounty hunters, also known as bail enforcement agents.
IdahoLegalNo
IllinoisIllegal
IndianaLegalBail Recovery Agent
IowaLegalYes
KansasLegalNo
KentuckyIllegal
LouisianaLegalBail Recovery Agent
MaineLegalNo
MarylandLegalNo
MassachusettsLegalNo
MichiganLegalNo
MinnesotaLegalNo
MississippiLegalBail Recovery Agent
MissouriLegalYes
MontanaLegalNo
NebraskaLegalNo
NevadaLegalBail Recovery AgentThe state allows bail enforcement but prohibits the use of the word “bounty hunter.” Bail enforcement agents in Nevada must be licensed by the Nevada Division of Insurance (DOI). Bail enforcement agents work for bail bondsmen to locate and return defendants who have skipped bail.
New HampshireLegalYes
New JerseyLegalNo
New MexicoLegalYes
New YorkLegalYes
North CarolinaIllegalBail BondingBounty hunting in itself is not legal in North Carolina. In order to preform or engage in duties related to the recovery of fugitives or other bail bonding activities, individuals must obtain a bail bonding license, issued by the North Carolina Department of Insurance.
North DakotaLegalNo
OhioLegalNoSince 2001, bounty hunting in the state of Ohio has been explicitly regulated by state law. As such, only a law enforcement officer or a qualified, licensed and appointed surety bail bond agent are authorized to arrest fugitives in the state.
OklahomaLegalYes
OregonIllegal
PennsylvaniaLegalYes
Rhode IslandLegalNo
South CarolinaLegalYes
South DakotaLegalBail Recovery Agent
TennesseeLegalYesBounty hunters in Tennessee must be employed by and work as agents of a professional bondsmen to find and return defendants who have “skipped” bail.
TexasIllegalBounty hunters are not allowed to work as such in Texas, those interested in working to apprehend fugitives (or “skips”) may wish to become private investigators. Private investigators must be at least 18 years of age.
UtahLegalNo
VermontLegalNo
VirginiaLegalNo
WashingtonLegalYes
West VirginiaLegalBail Recovery Agent
WisconsinIllegal
WyomingLegalNo
showing: 51 rows

Bounty Hunter Legal States 2023

  1. Ohio Small Business Development Center
  2. https://clients.ohiosbdc.ohio.gov/DocumentMaster.aspx?doc=2566#:~:text=Since%202001%2C%20bounty%20hunting%20in,arrest%20fugitives%20in%20the%20state.
  3. Understanding Bail Bonds
  4. Become a Bounty Hunter
  5. Become a Bounty Hunter
  6. Become a Bounty Hunter
  7. Become a Bounty Hunter
  8. Bounty hunter edu
  9. Bounty hunter edu
  10. Bounty hunter edu
  11. Bounty hunter edu
  12. Bounty hunter edu
  13. Bounty hunter edu
  14. Bounty hunter edu
  15. Bounty Hunter Education
  16. Bounty Hunter Education
  17. Bounty Hunter Education
  18. Colorado Criminal Lawyer Online
  19. https://www.colorado-criminal-lawyer-online.com/colorado-courts-limit-authority-of-bounty-hunters/
  20. Desert Sun
  21. https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/crime_courts/2022/09/30/california-mandates-bounty-hunter-licensing-after-palm-springs-killing/8141151001/
  22. How to Become a Bounty Hunter
  23. How to Become a Bounty Hunter
  24. How to Become a Bounty Hunter
  25. How to Become a Bounty Hunter
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  34. How to Become a Bounty Hunter
  35. How to Become a Bounty Hunter
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  38. How to Become a Bounty Hunter
  39. How to Become a Bounty Hunter
  40. How to Become a Bounty Hunter
  41. How to Become a Bounty Hunter
  42. Nyc Gov.
  43. Ruane attorneys

Sources