Bail Bonds Information
When a person is arrested for a crime they will typically be allowed to post bail with the court in order to be released from custody pending the outcome of the trial. This is commonly referred to as posting bail, however there are actually a variety of methods to post bail. In some states the courts may accept bail payments directly. This is a recent occurrence which is a part of the legislation restrictions and crack downs on commercial bail bonds agencies.
What happens after I’m arrested?
If you have been arrested for committing a crime the first thing that happens is you are taken to the local police station or jail and booked in for the arrest. During the booking process your finger prints will be taken along with a photograph and other personal information may be collected. Next you will be placed in a holding cell where you will have to await a hearing with a judge regarding your trial. Unfortunately, for individuals arrested on a Friday or over the weekend, it is most likely inevitable that you will remain in holding until Monday when the next judge is available to preside over your case.
After your hearing has been scheduled with a judge you will be transported to the court house typically in a bus or van where you a trial date will be set for your case. During this preliminary hearing the judge will typically offer you the opportunity to post bail in order to secure your release pending the outcome of the trial. Depending on the nature and severity of the crime committed, combined with the individual’s previous criminal history, the option to post bail may be denied by a judge all together.
Bail Schedule
The judge bases their bail amount off of the Bail Schedule which is a document produced annually in each county to create a guideline for bail amounts for various crimes within the county. Ultimately the judge’s discretion will determine the amount the defendant’s bail will be set at, however the Bail Schedule guidelines provide the minimum and maximum bail costs for particular crimes.
Bail Bondsman
If you are afforded the option to post bail it will typically be processed through a bail bondsman or bail bonds agent. In most states a bail bondsman is not allowed to determine the price they are charging however they receive 10% of the bail amount as a result of their services. In states like California this value is set in stone and can only be lowered to 8% depending on the client’s affiliation with organizations such as the military, credit unions, school districts or law attorneys. A bail bondsman is not allowed to offer coupons, credit or other incentives to utilize their services outside of this 2% reduction for affiliation.
After a defendant has been released on bail they are not free of the charges filed against them. They are still required to appear to all of their court dates and may be sentenced to jail after the trial’s conclusion depending on its outcome. Failure to appear in court when on bail results in a warrant for the defendant’s arrest for FTA or failure to appear.
Skipping Court Dates
If an individual skips a court date after they are released on bail the responsibility to ensure they appear in court is on the bail bondsman and the defendant. The bondsman will not receive their commission until the trial is concluded and the defendant is sentenced or cleared of charges. As a result the bail bonds company will typically contract a bounty hunter to apprehend the bail jumper in order to ensure their appearance in court and trial conclusion.
How do bail bondsmen make money?
A bail bondsman basically makes their money as an interest or commission in processing a defendant’s bail paperwork. If cash is paid up front to the courthouse this cash is returned to the defendant after the trial. With a bondsman they are essentially charging the defendant the 10% commission only and footing the complete cost of the bail amount. When the trial concludes they are refunded the full bail amount they keep the 10% supplied by the defendant which is how a bail bonds company gets paid for their services.
Stay safe when going out with 5 easy tips.
Getting arrested is an event most do not plan for and can be an inconvenience not only for the person in trouble but their loved ones as well. For someone who likes to go out to clubs or bars knowing what to avoid and how to plan ahead can save time, money and a hard earned life lesson.
Know your destination!
When traveling to a club or a bar it is sometimes necessary to travel out of your normal area of comfort. You may be unfamiliar with streets, freeways and navigation in the city of your event. Some areas may not be safe or harbor gang activity which is information which allows better judgment during your evening such as selecting an appropriate parking spot and how to dress.
Areas with higher crime rates will tend to have more police activity as well. Knowing the level of police activity in an area can help to avoid getting in trouble by the law as well as a general assessment for the dangers of the general area.
Counties and cities within the same state often have varying laws. For example receiving a speeding ticket in your home city may result in an online traffic school course however receiving the same ticket in a different county may require your appearance in a courthouse in the county the ticket was received.
Don’t drink and drive!
One of the most common ways to get yourself in trouble quickly is by drinking and driving. Not only will drinking and driving lead to a criminal arrest it is an action that endangers the lives of others. Avoiding drunk drivers is a challenge that everyone faces however for an individual who is traveling to an event that servers alcoholic beverages it is almost guaranteed that an encounter with a drunk driver will occur.
Reading the news paper to before you travel can help determine if there are any sobriety checkpoints and where these may be located. Knowing where a checkpoint is setup can provide useful for a driver who wishes to avoid drunk drivers. Areas where checkpoints are setup are typically choke points between an area known for drinking and the freeways. These are typically setup in a strategic manner by trained law enforcement agents where a higher rate of drunk drivers are expected. Avoiding these general areas during holidays or weekends will help to minimize the risk of encountering a drunk driver.
Avoid fighting and confrontation!
Alcohol is known to bring about violence and irrational behavior in individuals who over indulge in this beverage. Fights are commonplace in an environment where alcohol fuels the primary form of entertainment for a large group of people. Avoiding confrontation is the best way to minimize the risk of getting in a fight with someone at a bar or club which can result in serious injury or criminal charges regardless of the outcome of the confrontation.
If an individual appears to be overly intoxicated it is a good idea to avoid the situation all together. Moving to another location can resolve this typically and distancing yourself from a belligerent individual is the best way to avoid an argument. This goes hand in hand of course with moderating your own alcohol consumption to ensure that you are not the belligerent individual in a social setting.
Read street signs!
Staying aware of your surroundings is one of the best ways to avoid trouble from a general standpoint. When driving in an unfamiliar city reading the street signs can avoid trouble with law enforcement agents. Committing a vehicle violation in a construction zone results in increased rates usually to the tune of three times higher. Maintaining awareness of general traffic signs such as speed limits, allowable turns at intersections, and zoning notifications (school, construction, etc…) allows a driver to avoid being pulled over by a police officer and harming others.
Manage your budget!
A common arrest in cities that have bar districts is one which may not be as apparent as some may think: the dine and dash! This does not only refer to skipping out on a restaurant bill but applies to bars and taxis as well. As funny as it may sound skipping out on a taxi fair is an arrest that occurs frequently. Ironically this can be avoided easily enough by simply being responsible and managing your budget.
Abiding by a few simple rules and applying some planning and foresight to an outing can ultimately result in avoiding an arrest or dangerous situations. Arrests can ruin careers, relationships, lifestyles and lives along with irresponsible behavior. Arrests are costly and typically result in a family member having to contact a bail bondsman on your behalf to post bail which adds stress on your loved ones as well. Learning how to avoid trouble more efficiently results in a better quality of life for an individual that engages in cautious behavior.
Fugitive Hunting Strategies
The primary job of a bounty hunter is to locate and apprehend fugitives that have failed to appear for a court date after posting bail. Because of the dangers involved it is necessary for a fugitive recovery agent to know the proper strategies and tactics to complete their task in a safe manner. So how do you begin to hunt for a fugitive? The situations change and many times the proper method to track a person will have to change on a case by case basis, however these are some general guidelines to keep in mind when tracking a fugitive.
Gathering Intelligence:
First and foremost it is necessary to know your target. Learning the history of the fugitive is imperative to apprehend them in a safe manner. Some questions a fugitive recovery agent needs to ask are:
Is the fugitive a violent offender?
Are they known to carry firearms?
Do they have any previous military or martial arts history?
Do they have a drug history?
Do they have a history with mental illness?
These questions can tell a bounty hunter a substantial amount about the safety precautions they need to take once the target is located. Based on this information the bounty hunter can determine if it is better to attempt to apprehend the subject in a public location, at their residence, or if someone is able to turn them in.
It is also important to determine if the target is in a relationship, if they own a vehicle, have any known locations of residence, hobbies and their common hang out spots. If for example a fugitive is known to like drinking a bounty hunter could start by asking around local bars to gather additional information.
Finding Contacts:
Finding any contacts associated with the fugitive is another area of importance when attempting to locate an individual. First a bounty hunter would want to contact the person who signed the bond as they are ultimately responsible for the appearance of the bailee. In many cases this will be a parent of relative who are concerned with the wellbeing of their loved one. In some instance they will work with the bounty hunter or bail bonds company to assist with the apprehension of the fugitive, however there are just as many instances of family and friends trying to throw off bounty hunters.
It is important to assess early on whether the family and friends of the fugitive are cooperative or whether they are trying to conceal the bail jumper. This will ultimately lead to the strategy that the bounty hunter will need to employ to successfully detain their target. In some instances it is essential to feed the fugitive’s contacts with misinformation in order to allow them to lead the subject into a trap.
Equipment:
The use of proper equipment can make the difference of saving lives when apprehending a fugitive. Non lethal weapons are preferred by most bounty hunters due to the backlash of an investigation from law enforcement officials in the event that the apprehension turns deadly. A dead fugitive as well will not return the bond cost for the bail bonds agency. A bail bondsman and bounty hunter are in the business of capturing targets and bringing them in alive to face justice.
Along with adequate non lethal weapons a bounty hunter must have the proper protective gear including bullet proof vests, gloves, and clothing that suits a foot chase. The vehicles used by a bounty hunter should also conceal their stakeout operations while not appearing inconspicuous in the area surrounding the stakeout location. Changing vehicles frequently as well as the actual agent conducting the stakeout operation can dramatically improve its overall effectiveness.
In some instances it is necessary to carry a firearm depending on the criminal history of the bail jumper. Many bounty hunters do carry firearms however there is an equal amount that rely primarily on non lethal weapons. Handcuffs are another item that all bounty hunters should carry. Once a target is detained they will ultimately need to be transported back to the police station so an effective transport vehicle should be considered as well to ensure the proper levels of security for this task.
The Stakeout:
Staking out a target’s location is one of the most tedious and unrewarding aspects of being a bounty hunter although this is imperative in locating a subject. Many man hours are spent remaining patient and determined waiting for a fugitive to slip up during their run from the law. Watching the families’ area or residence, local gas stations, bars, grocery stores, convenience stores, dry cleaners, restaurants and laundromats are areas that are commonly observed because they provide services which almost everyone is bound to use at some point in their day to day lives.
Staking out a location is much more effective in smaller communities as there are less locations to manage and a particular individual is easier to notice in a smaller community. Despite the effectiveness of this strategy it is one which is employed in practically every man hunt.
Detaining a Fugitive:
Once a fugitive is located a comprehensive plan must be devised to apprehend the subject in the safest manner possible. If the fugitive is a flight risk a trap will have to be employed to ensure they do not escape the fugitive recovery team tracking them. Failing to detain a fugitive on the first attempt will commonly spook them resulting in the target laying low and taking further precautions to remain in hiding. This results in additional man hours to re-locate and apprehend the target, and since a bail bonds company is typically on a timeline to bring their subject in this can waste valuable time to recover the cost of the bond.
The strategy and tactics used by a bounty hunter once the subject is located will ultimately determine the success of the overall operation. Making the first apprehension attempt count will typically separate the successful and unsuccessful bounty hunters. Ensuring the proper equipment is available is another area that must be assessed in a detailed fashion by the fugitive recovery team. Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight, or mace or even a taser for that reason.
Successful Manhunting
Strategy, tactics, foresight and the proper equipment are essential to tracking and apprehending a fugitive successfully. This is one of the most difficult aspects of working within the bail bonds industry. In many cases a bail bonds agency will have a team of bounty hunters separate from their bail bondsmen so that each team can focus on its area of expertise however it is just as common for a bail bondsman to take on the role of the fugitive recovery agent due to lack of resources.
However these jobs are divided an essential aspect of the industry is the knowledge and employment of proper strategy in a variety of situations. The training of a fugitive recovery agent must mirror that of law enforcement of military personnel in order to provide an effective operating team that can maintain longevity through situations of adverse conflict.
For a Few Dollars More:
This movie goes back to the root of bounty hunters where the process was based off capturing wanted men instead of modern bounty hunters which typically operate for a bail bonds company. Manco (Clint Eastwood) and Colonel Douglas Mortimer (Lee Van Cleef) find that they are both chasing the same target El Indio (Gian Maria Volonte) and decide to team up. Their exploits take them through comedic situations as well as gun fights in this Western masterpiece.
The story takes a twist when their fugitive is located and it is discovered that one of the bounty hunters has an ulterior motive for this pursuit. This movie is a vivid story of justice and morals in a western setting and is masterfully written and filmed. Filled with action, drama and comedy “For a Few Dollars More” is a story that brings the viewer back to origins or bounty hunting and fugitive recovery which operated primarily off the posse mentality.
Star Wars:
Star Wars is an epic saga by George Lucas which almost everyone is familiar with even if they haven’t seen these movies themselves. In this saga a character by the name of Boba Fett is an intergalactic bounty hunter contracted by the Empire to apprehend their enemies. In this instance however Boba Fett is more of a mercenary and man hunter who is working for a price. This type of bounty hunter reflects more of the posse days when bounty hunting began with the absence of bail bonds.
Boba Fett is originally hired to locate the Millennium Falcon and capture its crew for Darth Vader. He appears in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. At one point Boba Fett is successful in capturing Han Solo and some of the crew member so the Millennium Falcon however they later escape while being held.
No Country for Old Men:
In this movie Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) stumbles upon a gruesome crime scene where two groups of drug runners have gunned each other down in the middle of the desert leaving a substantial amount of money unattended to. Naturally he takes the money for himself figuring there are no witnesses to even know it has gone missing. Little does Moss know that a killer is already contracted to return the money and discovers that Llewelyn has the money beginning his relentless pursuit.
As Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) pursues Moss he leaves a wake of murder, destruction and bloodshed behind him while Sherriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) attempts to conduct a proper investigation into the incident and the money. With a cast of popular actors and a well thought out storyline this movie did fairly success in the box office and has become a hit on DVD as well. The stories of the three key figures in this movie intertwine at the end in a similar manner to “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” with more a focus on fugitive hunting.
Conclusion:
Bounty hunting is a phenomenon that is growing in exposure in modern media. Originally this started as a concept that worked well for action movies and largely attracted male viewers due to the aggressive nature of the business. In recent years however this occupation has made its way into both love stories and comedies which allows it to gain exposure for a wider audience of people. Although once stigmatized as a vigilante and unlawful industry, the growing popularity of bounty hunting is slowly legitimizing the industry within the public’s eye.
It was once thought that bounty hunters were no more than crazy vigilantes who enjoy man hunting as an occupation. The reality is that within the industry of bail bonds the job role of bounty hunters is only one aspect comprising a successful bail bonds company. In actuality a large portion of clients that post bail have no encounters with a bounty hunter so long as they appear on time to their court dates. It is an essential service for the public as it allows a defendant adequate resources to properly dispute their trial by remaining out of jail pending the outcome of the trial.
Bounty Hunters in Popular Media
The bail bonds industry is one which has gained a lot of popularity in recent years with the increase in media coverage on shows such as “Dog The Bounty Hunter” and “Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force”. Although the majority of these television shows primarily the aspects of the job that entail bounty hunters, there are some aspects that show the life of a bondsman as well. Another popular movie that came out featuring bounty hunting as its main plot was the successful Jenifer Aniston flick “The Bounty Hunter”.
One For The Money:
A new movie is scheduled to be released later this year in 2012 starring Katherine Heigl who seeks a career as a bounty hunter with her cousin’s firm after becoming unemployed. In this movie Stephanie Plum (played by Katherine Heigl) is recently divorced and loses her job as a lingerie retailer and lands a job with her cousin who runs a bail bonds business. Her cousin Vinnie (Patrick Fischler) assigns her to an ironic task to apprehend her former lover Joe Morelli (Jason O’Mara) who was a local police officer that is now on the run. This movie is another comedy using the role of a bounty hunter to portray an ironic situation that merges the concepts of love, jealousy and spite to create a comedic scenario.
The Bounty Hunter:
In the movie “The Bounty Hunter” a unique relationship is explored between and ex wife, Nicole Hurley (Jennifer Aniston), and her former husband, Milo Boyd (Gerard Butler), who works as a bounty hunter and discovers that his next assignment is to apprehend her. This movie is a mix of a comedy and love story where Milo goes out of his way to ensure that Nicole has an unpleasant experience during her apprehension. The twist in this movie is that Jennifer Aniston is investigating a possible cover-up for a murder and is herself being targeted for this investigation. As her ex-husband apprehends her, initially he does not believe her story but later finds it to be true as he finds himself running for his life with his ex-wife.
The Proposition:
This movie takes place in the Australian outback in the late 1800s and is centered around a murderous and psychopathic gang called the Burns brothers who are suspected in the brutal rape and murder of a family by the name of Hopkins. Although not actually a bounty hunter, Captain Stanley (Ray Winstone)is a lawman who is tasked to bring the Burns brothers to justice for their unspeakable crimes. This movie takes a turn when the youngest Burns brother Charlie (Guy Pearce) is apprehended and offered a pardon under the condition that he murders his eldest brother Arthur (Danny Huston) within nine days. This movie explores the atmosphere of rural Australia in the late 19th century and the lawlessness that consumed some communities.
Pitch Black:
This science fiction classic starring Vin Diesel as Richard Riddick resulted in the popular sequel “Chronicles of Riddick”. In this film Riddick is a ruthless killer who was a fugitive on the run but had been apprehended by intergalactic bounty hunters. After a meteor strike to their cargo ship the crew becomes marooned on a desert planet inhabited by aliens that prefer to feast on the flesh of humans. The crew finds themselves torn between securing their fugitive and fighting for their lives against the hordes of alien inhabitants. Although initially a bad guy, the crew soon discovers that Riddick has a unique skill for dispatching life forms and becomes an essential figure in defeating the aliens. This movie gained a great deal of popularity for its striking resemblance to the popular movie series “Aliens”.
Domino:
Based on a true story, Keira Knightley stars as the lead character “Domino Harvey” in this action film who seeks to become a bounty hunter out of boredom from her privileged life. Domino is the daughter of an actor and aristocrat and finds herself bored with the society that surrounds her family life. Seeking some adventure and excitement she pursues the occupation of bounty hunting. This movie involves a variety of plot twists including mafia influence and FBI investigations. The real story of Domino Harvey was one which captivated many as it is not common for someone from a privileged and affluent background to pursue a dangerous occupation such as bounty hunter, which is magnified by the fact that she is one of the first popular female bounty hunters.
Domino Harvey’s True Story:
Unfortunately Domino Harvey gained the majority of her success after her death in 2005 shortly before the movie was released. Harvey struggled with drug addiction and faced charges of manufacturing methamphetamines by Los Angeles prosecutors. She died in her home on house arrest awaiting trial in the summer 2005 due to a fentanyl (pain killer) overdose.
Raising Arizona:
Raising Arizona is a comedy that centers around a couple that could not conceive a child and decide to kidnap a quintuplet to raise as their own. The couple in this movie are: H.I. McDonnough (Nicholas Cage), a recidivist who is in and out of jail, and Edwina McDonnough (Holly Hunter), an ex cop, and their decision to snatch the child of furniture mogul Nathan Arizona leads them on a comedic ride that the audience is sure to enjoy.
During their exploits the couple attempts to conceal their crime to the best of their ability while their community and friends seek to find Nathan Arizona Jr. for his $50,000 reward. The bounty hunter who is contracted by the Arizona’s is Leonard Smalls (Randall Cobb). In the end the McDonnough coupled decides to return the child to Nathan Arizona and specifically state that they are not interested in the reward money but instead want the child to grow up with a bright future.
What is a bounty hunter?
A bounty hunter is a person that works with a bail bondsman to apprehend a subject that has failed to appear to a court date after having posted bail for a pending trial. When an individual posts bail they are not paying their way out of a conviction. Instead they are paying for their release from holding pending their trial. If the defendant is found to be guilty by the court they must still serve the time mandated by the judge from the trial. They are however awarded the privilege of freedom during the trial.
Because of the flight risk involved an individual must be responsible for the defendant’s actions when they post bail for a pending trial. The bondsman who signed the bond for the defendant’s release is the one who is ultimately responsible to ensure the individual shows up to their court appearances on the designated dates. In the event that an individual who is out on bail does not appear in court they are issued a failure to appear (FTA) warrant at which time they are considered a fugitive.
When this occurs the bondsman responsible for the fugitive contracts a bounty hunter or in many cases acts as the bounty hunter themselves to apprehend the fugitive. A bounty hunter’s proper business title is Fugitive Recovery Agent and they are required to hold the proper certifications for this occupation in order to operate in their local or federal jurisdiction. In many cases a bondsman will act as their own bounty hunter but there are some instances as well where these positions are held by different individuals in a company.
The evolution of bounty hunting:
Bounty hunting began in the Wild West era where there was a severe lack of certified law enforcement presence among settlements far away from major municipalities. This was a time when vigilante justice was in some regions the only form of justice available for criminals. A bounty would be issued on a criminal at which time any individual with the courage to take on the task was available to apprehend the criminal. In most cases this was done by lawmen, marshals, sheriffs or deputies who held positions in a law enforcement trade.
As the United States moved from the settlement culture to the society we are accustomed to in modern times the old bounty hunters became a thing of the past and in some cases were viewed by the public as criminals as well. This is where the modern duties of a bounty hunter came into play as the bail bonds industry began to flourish.
Where is bounty hunting practiced today?
Bounty hunting is still a very unique and selective trade and many individuals in the world today do not have the luxury of taking on this occupation in their country of residence. In fact, only two countries in throughout the world today legal allow bounty hunters to operate in their borders, these countries being the United States of America and the Philippines. Although many countries do have a bail bonds system in place offering commercial bail through certified agencies, these companies do not have the ability to track down and apprehend their own fugitives within the confines of the laws of their native nation.
Bounty hunting in modern media:
Bounty hunters are a phenomenon which have been present in modern cinema almost since its creation. Most commonly we see them in Western movies where they assume the role of a marshal seeking a posse of criminals. One of the most popularized bounty hunters of fiction is Boba Fett from the popular science fiction movie Star Wars. This individual was an interstellar bounty hunter tasked by the dark side to seek criminals of the Empire. The connotation for Boba Fett was as a bad guy although the actual art of bounty hunting is much to the contrary.
In recent times, with the rise of reality television, another bounty hunter has gained popularity (and a bit of infamy) for his heroic actions which led to an international criminal trial. This person is Dog the Bounty Hunter, aka Dog Chapman who operates a bail bonds agency out of Hawaii. Dog Chapman gained international stardom when he was arrested in Mexico for kidnapping charges when attempting to apprehend one of his clients. The client in question during this incident was the infamous Andrew Luster who was the heir to the Max Factor fortune. He was accused of multiple accounts of date rape by drugging women at bars and in his home and videotaping his brutal assaults on his victims.
Naturally the American public revered Chapman as a hero for his participation in removing a dangerous predator and fugitive of the law from the streets. Since the fugitive fled to Mexico however, the issue arose when Dog Chapman crossed an international border to apprehend his fugitive. The laws in Mexico associate the actions of a bounty hunter as a kidnapper carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in a Mexican prison. Eventually the charges were dropped by Mexican authorities in 2007.
Since this event Chapman not only gained international fame but also a popular television show documenting his families exploits in the bail bonds industry. Since the start of his show there have been an increasing number of shows related to fugitive recovery, bail bonds and bounty hunting in modern media.
Public opinion on bounty hunting:
Although this industry is now commonly accepted in the United States as a meaningful and honest career there is still a stigma attached to bounty hunters and bail bondsmen due to the actions of a select few. There have been a variety of convictions of bounty hunters who did not follow the proper legal protocol when apprehending a subject resulting in prison time served. Due to these types of cases there is still a stigma on the bail bonds industry that this career still carries its origins of vigilante justice.
Despite what side an individual takes on the debate, bounty hunting is a phenomenon that will remain an integral part of American society and our justice system until otherwise stated through legal litigation by the federal and state governments.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency or “I.C.E.” is the department responsible to monitor and enforce immigration laws in the United States. This agency deals with a variety of issues ranging from human trafficking, drug trafficking and international student visa violations. Due to the large influx of issues that this agency must investigate regularly it is divided into sub sections that deal with particular crimes.
One of the most prevalent groups within this agency is the Homeland Security Investigations or H.S.I. which is responsible for crimes of severity like human trafficking and child pornography. The individuals that serve in this agency are true American and world heroes for the actions they engage in daily to make the world a safer place for everyone.
In recent sweeps during Operation Predator, members from ICE and HSI have shut down rings of individuals involved in human trafficking, child pornography, sex tourism and online predators both internationally and nationally. Unfortunately with the advancements of society there are demented individuals who take advantage of other humans for financial gain and it is essential for international organizations to step in to maintain order for crimes that can occur across foreign countries borders.
Another task that is assigned to the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agency is protecting America’s military and defense secrets from being transmitted to individuals in other countries. These investigations are referred to as “counter-proliferation investigations” and typically involve the exporting of materials that can be used to make weapons of mass destruction, biological or chemical weapons, military hardware, controlled technology and firearms across country borders. In order to shut down these rings of individuals who pose a threat on national security it is essential for ICE HSI to work well with other law enforcement and federal agencies to acquire the proper resources to take action.
Throughout 2011 over 1,878 counter-proliferation investigations were conducted pertaining to United States nation defense. During these investigations ICE HSI was responsible for 625 arrests, 460 indictments and 289 criminal convictions as well as 1,244 seizures of controlled materials related to national defense.
Drug Trafficking:
Drug trafficking is a criminal activity that involves the production, manufacturing and transportation of narcotics across country borders. This is an important battle for our law enforcement officers to combat as it involves bringing dangerous chemicals and materials into the United States but it is also known to increase other crimes such as burglary, homicide and firearms violations in associated areas.
The primary focus of concern for the United States drug trafficking investigations are coming from the rampant cartels in Mexico that are causing chaos in the border towns of both Mexico and the United States. Another location that many Americans do not frequently hear about is narcotics coming from Afghanistan to the United States. Afghanistan is one of the biggest producers of poppy plants which derive the components for opium and heroin. This is a particular troubling region as the proceeds from these narcotic sales are used to fund violence against American soldiers and interests worldwide.
Human Trafficking:
Human trafficking typically pertains to the sex trade and prostitution undergrounds throughout the world. Almost every country in the world faces problems with human trafficking although the circumstances are often drastically different. On the Mexican-American border human trafficking is commonly used to bring migrant workers and their families into the United States. These individuals are referred to as “coyotes” for their roles in smuggling groups of individuals across the vast desert to arrive safely in the United States.
Human trafficking and the sex industry are rampant in parts of Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. This crime goes hand in hand with large scale government corruption and often relies on paying off government officials to remain in operation within the countries affected. This crime in particular is responsible for the necessity of investigators to work closely with foreign governments in order to effectively shut down these rings of degenerates.
Firearms Trafficking:
Trafficking firearms is commonly referred to as “gun running” and typically involves groups of individuals that want to arm themselves with the intention of overthrowing a government of engaging in terror related activities. Russia is one of the leading nations involved in this crime due to the vast surplus of reliable weapons that were produced during the cold war era. This is combined with the fall of the Soviet Union and rampant corruption in the Russian government and military which allowed these weapons to be stored without auditing.
Law Enforcement Prevention:
Although the United States is the victim of international criminal activities on a daily basis we have some of the most dedicated and skilled individuals in the world working around the clock to prevent and minimize these activities. It is common knowledge that these crimes will most likely never cease but our government agencies are constantly refining their standards, procedures, and legislation to combat these as effectively as possible.
Our law enforcement agencies always encourage the assistance of the public in their investigations and are always willing to receive tips on suspicious activities. For more information on most wanted lists and who to report suspicious immigrations and customs violations to please refer to the ICE homepage.
Immigration Bonds:
On the other side, if you know someone who has been arrested on immigration violations the best option is to find an immigration bail bonds agency that can assist in securing a defendant’s releasing pending the outcome of the trial. This service assists in providing a fair trial for the defendant who is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
