Wanted, dead or alive

摘要

For most people, bounty hunters conjure up images of wild-west loners chasing cattle thieves for a handful of dollars. The recent exploits of Duane "Dog" Chapman―a particularly colourful specimen of this unusual profession-have done little to alter the loose-cannon image. Last June, Mr Chapman tracked down Andrew Luster, a Max Factor heir convicted of rape, to Mexico―and hauled him back to California, to the fury of the Mexican government. Yet most bounty hunters have a much more mundane life. Nowadays, bounty hunting (sorry, bail enforcement) is closely linked to the bail-bond industry. Under American law, most people arrested for minor crimes can get out of jail and wait for their day in court in the comfort of their home if they put up bail money, which is returned when they appear in front of the judge. Those who don't have the cash often turn to bail-bond agents or "bondsmen" (though many seem to be women). For a premium, and usually some collateral, agents guarantee that their clients will appear in court and cover their debts if they do not. Around nine in ten bailees follow the rules, and only a tiny proportion of the absentees are genuine fugitives (most simply forget, or are ill, and the date is rescheduled).