We've read about them in books and seen them portrayed on the screen, but do we know exactly what a bounty hunter is and what his job entails? Is it really what you see on reality television or is there more to it?

Basically, a bounty hunter, or fugitive recovery agent, is a person who apprehends fugitives in exchange for payment. If a defendant fails to show up for a court appearance, he is then considered a fugitive. When this happens, the bail bond company will hire a bounty hunter to recover the fugitive. The term "Fugitive Recovery" Agent is preferred by those in the industry over the more derogatory "bounty hunter" because the term "bounty hunter" conjures up images of the old west with its "dead or alive posters" and rewards offered in exchange for the fugitive. A fugitive recovery agent works for a percentage of the bail amount, not a reward.

A career as a fugitive recovery agent is not to be taken lightly. One couldn't enter into this profession without research and training. In order to become a bounty hunter, one must have knowledge of how the bail bonds industry works. In addition, the bounty hunter must be proficient in other skills such as detecting deceit, surveillance, skip tracing and negotiation. A bounty hunter must also know how to research and investigate missing persons. He must be able to access and analyze phone records of the fugitive's friends and family. He will have to know how to dig into the fugitive's past and find all past residences. He will need to learn the fugitive's habits, vices, friends, enemies and hangouts. In other words, a bounty hunter must have good investigative skills.

A career as a bounty hunter can be quite lucrative. Since a bounty hunter can only apprehend those fugitives who have skipped bail, payment is typically ten percent of the bail amount. This can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for a busy agent.

Different states have different restrictions. For example, in certain states a bounty hunter cannot carry a fire arm. In others, fire arms are allowed but a background check is required; still other states require visible identification such as that written on the back of a t-shirt or jacket. Unlike a police officer, a fugitive recovery agent doesn't need a warrant to apprehend a fugitive and can enter private property. Bounty hunters are also allowed to cross state lines without an extradition treaty.

If you're thinking perhaps this is the job for you, consider this: every fugitive is considered armed and dangerous. This means your own life is constantly in danger, especially if you're doing the apprehending in a state that doesn't allow the use of fire arms. In addition, there's always the chance that the fugitive will seek revenge once his jail term has ended. If this is something you wish to pursue, research can be done online or at the library. Your local bail bond agency is sure to have information for you. Just watch your back.