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Bounty hunters are legal, but they have a strictly defined role. They aren't cops for hire or private investigators -- they work at the behest of bail agents. They don't have any more authority than someone making a citizen's arrest. As this FAQ explains, bail agents hire bounty hunters to locate and arrest defendants who have forfeited their bail bonds, usually by not showing up for a court appearance. The bounty hunters generally work for a percentage of the bond. For a fascinating description of the day-to-day life of a bounty hunter, check out this great interview with Bay Area bounty hunter Hector Rivera. There's a fair amount of rough and tumble involved, but
Mr. Rivera comes across as a very humane and decent guy. Bounty hunter laws tend to vary by state. Most states require some sort of training and licensing. The majority of bounty hunters are competent professionals, but occasionally some get into trouble.
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