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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>61441</law_id><section_number>9.1-186</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>2.2-3705.3</reference><reference>9.1-102</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="9.1">Commonwealth Public Safety</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="1">Department of Criminal Justice Services</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="12">Bail Enforcement Agents</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#x201C;Bail enforcement agent,&#x201D; also known as &#x201C;bounty hunter,&#x201D; means any individual engaged in <span class="dictionary">bail recovery</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Bail recovery</span>&#x201D; means an act whereby a person <span class="dictionary">arrests</span> a <span class="dictionary">bailee</span> with the <span class="dictionary">object</span> of surrendering the <span class="dictionary">bailee</span> to the appropriate <span class="dictionary">court</span>, jail, or <span class="dictionary">police</span> <span class="dictionary">department</span>, for the purpose of discharging the <span class="dictionary">bailee</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">surety</span> from liability on his <span class="dictionary">bond</span>. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Bail recovery</span>&#x201D; shall include investigating, surveilling or locating a <span class="dictionary">bailee</span> in preparation for an imminent <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>, with such <span class="dictionary">object</span> and for such purpose.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Bailee</span>&#x201D; means a person who has been released on bail, and who is or has been subject to a <span class="dictionary">bond</span>, as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/19.2-119/">19.2-119</a>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Board</span>&#x201D; means the Criminal Justice Services <span class="dictionary">Board</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Department</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Criminal Justice Services.</p></section></text><history>2004, c. 397.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
