Updated: May 6, 1999

The recent example of two heavily armed men, dressed in black, breaking into a private home in the middle of the night with drawn weapons illustrates the need for Alaska to stop bounty hunters from operating in our state.

Alaskan peace officers always honor felony warrants from other states and countries if the other jurisdiction wants the prospective felon extradited. Having contracted private citizens kidnap Alaskans and then forcibly transport them to another jurisdictions is very problematic in terms of protecting the human and civil rights of the kidnapped victim. In addition, the kidnappers (a.k.a. bounty hunters) are, themselves, at risk; most Alaskans have weapons at home and are quite unaccustomed to having their homes invaded by armed people without resisting vigorously.

Alaska Department of Public Safety personnel strongly support this effort to eliminate bounty hunters in our state.