In New Hampshire, laws governing bounty hunting can be found in Title 59, Chapter 597 of the New Hampshire statute.  New Hampshire recognizes bounty hunting as a profession.  Pursuant to RSA 597:7-b, a recovery agent means “a person who is offered or given any compensation by a bail agent or surety in exchange for assisting the bail agent or surety in apprehending or surrendering any defendant, or keeping the defendant under necessary surveillance.”

Pursuant to RSA 597:7-b, a person who operates as a recovery agent in the state, excluding licensed private detectives, must be trained and certified through a program approved by the professional bail agents of the U.S.  S/he must register annually with the secretary of state.  The secretary of state issues to each registered recovery agent proof of such registration.  All bail agencies operating in the state must annually provide to the secretary of state proof of liability insurance coverage in the amount of $300,000 for bail recovery activities of the agency’s bail agents and bail recovery agents.  This proof of insurance coverage must be provided before the agency’s bail agents are licensed or re-licensed and before the agency’s bail recovery agents are registered or reregistered.  Bail recovery agents acting as independent contractors must provide proof of liability insurance coverage in the amount of $300,000 to the secretary of state before registration or re-registration.[i]

Additionally, persons operating as a recovery agent in the state without meeting the above certification, insurance, and registration requirements are guilty of a class A misdemeanor[ii].

Pursuant to RSA 597:7-b, a bail recovery agent searching for a person who has violated conditions of release must notify a municipality’s chief law enforcement officer when the search is to be conducted in the municipality’s jurisdiction.  A bail agent or recovery agent violating this is guilty of a class A misdemeanor[iii].

[i] RSA 597:7-b.

[ii] Id.

[iii] Id.