Citizens interested in learning how to become a bounty hunter in Minnesota can follow these steps:
 | Become Qualified in Minnesota |
 | Develop Professional Partnerships in Minnesota |
 | Stay Informed of Minnesota State and Federal Laws |
Bounty hunters who track fugitives of the law are in an exciting line of work, usually contracting with a bail bondsman to arrest wanted suspects, bring them before the custody of a court, and receive a bounty payment.
Bounty hunters may also monitor awards offered for the capture of criminal suspects, such as a recent $60,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the death of a Minneapolis boy and a $100,000 reward offered for similar information in the case of a 33-year-old Cloquet woman who was murdered in 2000.
Step 1. Becoming Qualified in Minnesota
Although there are no official laws regarding Minnesota bounty hunter school and license requirements, not knowing the proper procedures and safeguards in the bounty hunter business can get you arrested, fined, or killed. There are three basic aspects to working as a bounty hunter in the North Star State:
- Business
- Legal
- Safety
As a bounty hunter you will need to actively seek contracting work with bail bondsman and/or monitor rewards offered for fugitives in the state. When pursuing fugitives you will have to know the existing laws of the Minnesota – and federal and tribal laws when on reservations – that will be your framework within which to conduct suspect apprehensions. Finally you will need to have adequate training and know-how to capture a fugitive in a manner that is safe for both of you; this means proper arrest techniques, suspect control strategies, and defensive maneuvers.
Being proficient in these three principal areas requires having some form of training and education in the following fields:
- Marketing
- Business
- Criminal Justice
- Law Enforcement
- Public Safety
- Self-defense
- Marksmanship
- Law
- Psychology
Associate and bachelor degrees in any of these fields will also help to convince potential business partners of your qualifications.
View programs in Minnesota for bounty hunter educational training
Step 2. Developing Professional Partnerships in Minnesota
Bounty hunters generally obtain most of their business leads by contracting with bail bond agencies or bondsmen who need one of their clients brought to the custody of the court.
According to current statutes, a bondsman may order the arrest of a bailee by a bounty hunter if he or she believes the bailee will:
- Flee
- Not appear before a judge as ordered
- Not otherwise fulfill the conditions agreed upon for the issuance of a bond
Bounty hunter jobs in Minnesota revolve around bondsmen, and the State Court Administrator’s Office (SCAO) maintains a list of approved bail bond agents.
Step 3. Staying Informed of Minnesota State and Federal Laws
Bounty hunters might as well consider keeping up on current state laws and pending legislation as a continuing education requirement for their field. Being aware of past precedents set by court decisions can also be helpful in a common-law legal system. Monitoring national events that may have an impact on state laws is additionally advisable.
Claiming to have unintentionally violated the law does not stand up in court, and experienced bounty hunters will tell you about cases where well-meaning colleagues received large fines and jail time for unknowingly engaging in criminal activity while pursuing a fugitive. That is why it is important to stay abreast of Minnesota laws.
Sources: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=629
https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/bca-divisions/mnjis/Documents/2012%20Crime%20Book.pdf
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=629.63