How to become a bounty hunter in Kansas

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Bounty hunting may conjure up images of figures from movies about the Wild West or works of fiction, but this profession hasn't disappeared from the Sunflower State.

If you have a vision of traveling across the high plains in search of criminals or cattle rustlers, you may be more than a century late. However, while the age of the 'classic' bounty hunter has ended, you can still try to pursue a role as one in the modern day and even try to follow in the footsteps of people like Duane Chapman, also known as Dog the Bounty Hunter, or Bob Burton.

Kansans pursuing a role as a bounty hunter will first need to get an official license before they get started. Prospective bounty hunters will also need to read up on some important regulations surrounding the practice to make sure they don't end up on the wrong side of the law.

What do bounty hunters do?

Bail enforcement agents (BEA), also known by the titles of bounty hunters or fugitive recovery agents, find and recover fugitives who are avoiding court appearances, according to Mintz Private Investigations based out of Iola. Agents are usually former law enforcement who use tricks instead of physical force to capture fugitives.

The National Association of Fugitive Recovery Agents (NAFRA) points out there can be different types of people working in the industry who gravitate towards fugitive recovery and/or enforcing the conditions of a bail bond contract. The terminology used for bounty hunters, fugitive recovery agents and BEAs may differ depending on which state you're in.

"Bounty Hunters are those that are in the business of tracking and / or capturing fugitives for the purpose of collecting a reward offered by government and non government organizations, they normally operate autonomously rather than by contract."

NAFRA website excerpt

Agents working with fugitive recovery and bail bonds may be paid "in-house" or by commission, according to NAFRA. The commission may be anywhere between 10% to 25% of the bond if an agent is operating independently.

Getting a license

BEAs working in Kansas are required by a 2016 law to register with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). This is a requirement for them to obtain a license to pursue their line of work and it generally starts with filling out an online form. These agents are described as the following under Kansas law:

"A person not performing the duties of a law enforcement officer who tracks down, captures and surrenders to the custody of a court a fugitive who has violated a surety or bail bond agreement, commonly referred to as a bounty hunter, but is not a surety or bail agent."

K.S.A. 22-2809a excerpt.

Applicants must also meet some eligibility requirements to become a BEA in Kansas and make payments such as an initial licensure fee of $200 along with submitting fingerprints. Some other stipulations listed for BEAs include the following:

• No felony convictions.
• No state residency required.
• No pre-requisite training required.
• Must pass a criminal history records check.

People who possess a BEA license in Kansas may not be allowed to carry weapons, such as a knife or firearm, even if their criminal history has been expunged. The OAG encourages BEA license holders to consult with a private attorney on whether or not they can carry a weapon with them.

Breaking the law

Bounty hunting does come with some risks, including violating the law as was the case with Louisiana bounty hunters Wayne Lozier and Jody Sullivan, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The pair were charged after kidnapping a Missouri woman from her home in 2019, using a tazer on her multiple times and taking her across state lines.

Sullivan pleaded guilty while Lozier was convicted in 2023 of federal charges related to kidnapping and conspiracy in association with the incident. Lozier received a 10-year prison sentence in early 2024 while Sullivan received five years of probation.

People are encouraged to make reports to the OAG if they believe someone is acting as a bounty hunter without a Kansas license. The reporting form can be found online by clicking here. Similarly, you can also file a complaint form for bounty hunters in Kansas.

For more information on BEAs and the regulations that surround their work in Kansas, along with a list of people who currently hold a BEA license in the Sunflower State, click here. People can read through a basic FAQ list on acquiring a BEA license in Kansas by clicking here. You can also check out the 1990 book, "Bail Enforcer: The Advanced Bounty Hunter," which acts as a basic training manual for bail enforcement agents.

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