Parents' Guide to

Bounty Wars

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Criminal capture competition more about greed than justice.

TV Discovery Channel Reality TV 2012
Bounty Wars Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 1 parent review

Just a guy
Just a guy Adult
July 11, 2012
age 12+

My Thoughts on Bounty Wars T.V. Show

I think that this TV show does show people that there is a consequence for all. As far as the teams motivated by greed, I dont think so. People in this society today have to understand that not everybody wins and when time is up, game over. Im sure that the other writer has never lost at anything and Im sure that person always won at everything they did. Sorry it does not work that way. But its just my thought.

This title has:

Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

BOUNTY WARS is a reality series that features three veteran teams of bounty hunters competing against each other to earn some extra cash. Bail bondsman Jeff Stanley gives each team a list of fugitives that they have to hunt down. The teams must capture as many bail jumpers as possible within five days in hopes that their bonds are high enough to bring in a good return. The team that brings in the most reward money earned from the bonds collected wins $10,000 in bonus money. It isn't easy, especially when they hit dead ends or fail to make a capture in time. But each team does their best to use their strength and savvy to make their captures.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

The series offers a look at the different ways bounty hunters search for and capture defendants in order to collect a percentage of the bounty that is earned as a result of the arrest. To make it more interesting, details about some of the team members' personal lives are revealed, and limited details about the defendants' backgrounds are discussed.

The activities featured here are motivated by greed rather than justice, something that is most apparent when a team is minutes away from seizing a wanted criminal and then walks away because the game is over. Nonetheless, fans of crime fighting shows will still find it voyeuristically entertaining.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the role of a bounty hunter in American crime fighting. Why does the court system rely on bounty hunters, a.k.a. bail enforcement agents, even though they are not officers of the court? Did you know that bounty hunters have more authority than police officers when arresting defendants?

  • What is the value of this kind of show? Why would someone want to appear on the show?

TV Details

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