What Are Bounty Hunters Legally Allowed To Do?

In Kansas, bounty hunting is a legal profession, and the state does not require bounty hunters to hold a license.

A bounty hunter, or an “agent of a surety” or “surety agent” (as identified in the Kansas administrative code), is not required to be licensed in Kansas. However, they must meet certain qualifications and should follow the recommended process in order to be able to locate and capture fugitives.

They don’t just jump into a scene to apprehend offenders, they carry out lots of investigative research ahead of time to capture fugitives that have escaped facing their time in court. Hunters are trained to understand the laws of the state where they operate, and also the laws of other states – as fugitives sometimes travel to other locations/states.

According to state law, surety agents are required to inform local law enforcement before they apprehend a fugitive. Prior to “arresting” a skip, you must provide your local sheriff or police department with:

• A certified copy of the bond
• A copy of your driver’s license or state ID
• Documentation that you are working on behalf of a surety
• Documentation that the person you are apprehending is the principal on the bond

Once they provide this information to their local law enforcement agency, they may apprehend the fugitive and if they desire, law enforcement can go with them when apprehending defendants.

Based on specific county laws, a bounty hunter may be allowed to enter the fugitive’s home without a warrant and make an arrest to get the person back into jail or court custody.

However, in most cases and states, the bounty hunter won’t be allowed entry into the fugitive’s property without an official warrant. When done otherwise, the bounty hunter can be charged with trespassing.