Bounty hunting in the USA as shown on TV and in social media
Unthinkable in Europe, bounty hunters are a common sight in many states of the USA. It is not surprising that they are also depicted by both traditional and online media.
Series 3 | Episode 1
Epsiode information
Duration: 12:51
Keywords: bail, bond, bounty hunting
Bounty hunters not only exist in movies about the Wild West but take on a significant role in the modern justice system in the USA. This begs the question what tasks the job entails nowadays and compared to its origins, what level of authority bounty hunters have, how they might be regulated and what kind of image is created by the media. Is there a difference in a bounty hunters’ portrayal in traditional versus online entertainment, and what issues might arise from their depiction in modern media content?
By discussing the legal grounds of bounty hunting, relevant Court decisions and regulations, along with comparing two well-known bounty hunters in the entertainment industry (Duane “Dog” Chapman (A&E Network) and Patty Mayo (YouTube)), Anna and Rebecca answer the questions raised in this first episode of series 3.
