Bail bondsmen are generally the first person that people contact after a friend or loved one has been arrested. When the bondsman is paid and the bond is secured, there are certain rules the friend or family member must follow. One of these rules is to arrive at their court date on time. In some cases, the person may not show up and may try to avoid prosecution completely by going on the run. If your friend or family member has done this, you may not be sure what to do. A fugitive recovery agent (also known as a bounty hunter) is usually the step that a bondsman will take. Here are a few things to know about these agents. 

Personal Contacts

One of the first things that a fugitive recovery agent does is call or visit the personal contacts of the fugitive. These can be obtained from you, the fugitive's phone records, or from known networking they have through work. The recovery agent will communicate with anyone that is listed through the bail bondsman as well. This helps the agent find out who last saw the fugitive, where the fugitive may have gone, or what their plans were. This gives them a solid lead on the next step to take if the fugitive is not located through personal contacts. 

Property Check

A surprising aspect of using a fugitive recovery agent is the ability they have to do a property check. A recovery agent can gain access into the fugitive's property without having a warrant that would lead to another arrest. This property check may be one of the first steps the agent takes in order to locate the fugitive. They can use any information they find on the property that would help them locate the fugitive and bring them in. 

Arrest and Bail

When the recovery agent finds the fugitive, they will contact the bail bondsman. In many cases, a fee for locating and bringing in the fugitive is given to the agent. This fee is also called a bounty fee. They collect their bounty after the fugitive has been turned into the jail and booked in on a violation of bond arrest. The bond is then revoked. You will have to discuss any remaining fees you may be responsible for as the person who posted the bond. 

Keep in mind, if your friend or family member does not show for their court date you are partially responsible. If you can't find them or reach them in any way, contact the bail bondsman. They can work with you on finding the person or they can inform you of their intent to hire a recovery agent. If you are unsure about the process that occurs after your loved one or friend has been found, discuss the situation with your bondsman for specific details.