Bounty Hunters

Forums › Off topic › Bounty Hunters

BTR

1522 posts

Uber Geek

#211613 4-Apr-2017 12:05

Just a very out there thought after seeing my local police appealing for information on someone via Facebook. Should NZ have legal bounty hunters?

Heres my thoughts, the police are understaffed and underfunded and to be hunting for low level criminals who simply haven't shown up to court after they spray painted a bus stop seems a waste of resources. If we had bounty hunters who are paid a set amount for detaining the bringing in these criminals it would free up police resources and save the police force money.

Thoughts?

1 | 2

222 posts

Master Geek

#1756242 4-Apr-2017 12:15

3 people support this post

It's probably a waste of resources even chasing these type of people if they fail to turn up at court - they will come to the police's attention sooner or later - most commonly if they get pulled over while driving since anything like that will come up when the police check their licence. I don't support privatising anything along these lines - Serco running Mount Eden remand prison is a good example of how not to do it.

Rikkitic

Lock him up!
11586 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1756250 4-Apr-2017 12:26

One person supports this post

My thought is that for whatever reason authorities in this country seem to be terrified of anything that smacks of vigilantism or citizens engaging in police-style operations. Dairy owners are prohibited by law from arming themselves in any meaningful fashion for self-defense even though police are too under-resourced to offer them any real protection. Women cannot carry pepper spray or Tasers. Anyone who goes around armed in public with any weapon, let alone a gun, probably has more to fear from the police than any bad guys. Personally, I do not think all this is a bad thing, though I do have a lot of sympathy with the dairy owners. But it does raise a practical question. How on earth is a bounty hunter supposed to collect any bounty if he has no means of coercion at his disposal, never mind simple self-defense?

I don't think there is ever a bad time to talk about how absurd war is, how old men make decisions and young people die. - George Clooney

MikeAqua

5454 posts

Uber Geek

#1756256 4-Apr-2017 12:31

In the US BHs are authorised to carry weapons and use deadly force in some circumstances.

In NZ security guards don't even get to carry clubs ....

Major change would be required to allow bounty hunting

And if you capture someone then what? The court systems are supposedly flooded and NZ is reluctant to jail petty criminals.

Mike

Lias

4004 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1756270 4-Apr-2017 13:01

2 people support this post

If we introduced castle law, and liberalized our self defense and gun ownership laws, there would be a lot less petty criminals to fill up our jails :-P

Information wants to be free. The Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it.

Rikkitic

Lock him up!
11586 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1756296 4-Apr-2017 13:25

5 people support this post

Gee, we could be just like America. What a paradise that is. Everyone armed, no crime, prisons empty ... oh wait

I don't think there is ever a bad time to talk about how absurd war is, how old men make decisions and young people die. - George Clooney

Dratsab

3543 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1756308 4-Apr-2017 13:34

cr250bromo: ...they will come to the police's attention sooner or later - most commonly if they get pulled over while driving...

This. They usually attract attention to themselves while driving by doing dumb things while driving heap-of-crap cars.

Geektastic

14145 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1756474 4-Apr-2017 18:26

I was at school with a girl who became one in the US and they made a film about her. Her name was Domino Harvey. Sadly she died from a drug overdose. She was a nice girl, although a little 'out there' even as a teen when we were at school.

We totally should have them here. I'll refrain from suggesting 'on a dead or alive basis' for payment...!

scuwp

3270 posts

Uber Geek

#1756487 4-Apr-2017 18:33

The whole concept of being a bounty hunter is that there is an actual "Bounty", which can be big money in the US. If we can afford to pay individuals big money to do this, we could just employ more police. Can't catch too many crim's however cause we got nowhere to put them.

Always be yourself, unless you can be Batman, then always be the Batman

BlinkyBill

711 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1756488 4-Apr-2017 18:34

It is entirely possible to get informal bounty hunters and debt collectors in NZ. As a private enterprise, these organizations for pretty reasonable fees will recover your cash or goods, stop excess noise, and dispense violent retribution for crimes committed.

BlinkyBill

TheLastTherapist

16 posts

Geek

#1756519 4-Apr-2017 19:18

cr250bromo:

It's probably a waste of resources even chasing these type of people if they fail to turn up at court - they will come to the police's attention sooner or later

Couldn't have said it better!

Geektastic

14145 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1756847 5-Apr-2017 10:05

TheLastTherapist:
cr250bromo:

It's probably a waste of resources even chasing these type of people if they fail to turn up at court - they will come to the police's attention sooner or later

Couldn't have said it better!

We don't charge high bail fees here, do we? I assume not, since few of these scroats would be out on bail if we did.

In the US, bounty hunters are usually acting for the bail bond providers.

clevedon

1031 posts

Uber Geek

#1756876 5-Apr-2017 10:52

One person supports this post

TheLastTherapist:

cr250bromo:

It's probably a waste of resources even chasing these type of people if they fail to turn up at court - they will come to the police's attention sooner or later

Couldn't have said it better!

What? So they can commit more crimes - say like breaking into YOUR house, stealing YOUR car - or worse.

Yeah, great idea. Just let them run amok causing pain and hassle until they are caught, because crime only happens to other people.

cruxis

226 posts

Master Geek

#1756934 5-Apr-2017 12:29

If you got the information and the right contacts, you can pay a gang to get you the justice you seek.

tripper1000

1167 posts

Uber Geek

#1757024 5-Apr-2017 14:08

One person supports this post

Geektastic:
TheLastTherapist:

cr250bromo:

It's probably a waste of resources even chasing these type of people if they fail to turn up at court - they will come to the police's attention sooner or later

Couldn't have said it better!

We don't charge high bail fees here, do we? I assume not, since few of these scroats would be out on bail if we did.

In the US, bounty hunters are usually acting for the bail bond providers.

We don't charge ANYTHING for bail in New Zealand.

IMHO it is a key failing of our justice system. Collateral free bail, combined with concurrent sentencing (many crimes for the price of one) equals a license to commit as much crime as you can before you have your day in court and go to jail. It is win-win for a crook and loose-loose for society.

When someone is campaigning to make bail conditions "tougher" they need to be specific about what exactly "tougher" is and educate N.Z. that bail costs no money.

If the suspects family helps them out with bail money, the suspects family has a vested interest in helping them stay on the straight and narrow. If the suspects family refuse to help out .... well they know the suspect better than anyone else.

afe66

2295 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1757082 5-Apr-2017 15:01

And those who are too poor to pay bail stay in jail where they can't look after kids, maintain their minimum wage jobs.

While those who have money pay their way out of jail.

That's not NZ way.

A.

1 | 2