Bounty hunters, also known as bail enforcement officers, track down and arrest individuals who have been released from police custody on bail, but who’ve failed to attend their court dates. People who ignore the trial schedule are deemed fugitives. They’re to be brought back by bounty hunters into the station so that they can attend another trial.
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How Much Do Bounty Hunters Earn?
[campusexplorer header_text="START YOUR FIREFIGHTER JOURNEY" intro_text="Fill The Form Below To Get Admissions Info From Local Schools" aos="41826B55" concentration="F3205941" is_lightbox="1" lightbox_btn_text="CLICK HERE TO BEGIN YOUR FIREFIGHTER JOURNEY"]In return for their professional services, bounty hunters will typically obtain ten or twenty percent of the bond or bail amount as payment and they gain a yearly income that is within the range of $50,000 to $80,000. Since there have been numerous people who ignore trials, the line of work is searching for more employees. Those bounty hunters with formal certification and experience will get the most job opportunities available to them.
Bail Enforcement Agent Work Description
The police bring an individual who made a criminal offense in the station and hold them there. The individual will be brought to processing of records before a prosecutor could set a schedule on the court trial. There is time for the prosecutor to place charges during the time period in between the booking and the court date. Time may differ in various states but they usually take 48 to 72 hours. The court date will come and the defendant will show up. The trial will include the judge’s recitation of the prosecutor’s charges against the accused.
The accused will then need to make a plea of guilty or not guilty. Once a plea has been reached, the presiding judge, depending on the crime the accused is involved in, may enable the defendant to go out of police custody in return for bail. It is beneficial for both parties because it keeps the expenditures of the authorities from rising and it also provides the accused liberty until their trial. Bail also acts as an incentive for accused to be present at their trial.
Judges may place bail at hundreds of thousands of dollars. Sometimes, one cannot pay the bail on their own. This is where the bondsman will come in to cover the bail for the accused. If the accused attends his court dates his bail will be refunded. However, if the defendant prefers not to attend or misses his court date the court seizes his bail and issues a warrant for his arrest.
The bondsman will get the services of the Bounty hunter to search the defendant and present him or her back to the authorities so that he could have the bail money back. Bounty hunters will invest much of their time doing interviews, researching their target, and performing surveillance while tracking down a fugitive. However, they still need to adhere to the rules of the state while carrying this out.
A few states such as Washington demands bounty hunters to get adequate reason before coming into a private facility. They are also expected to tell authorities that they are going to get into that property. If the bounty hunter is in Virginia, he will have to make a 24 hour notice in advance and a 60 minute notice after the arrest.
Ways To Become A Bounty Hunter
[campusexplorer header_text="START YOUR FIREFIGHTER JOURNEY" intro_text="Fill The Form Below To Get Admissions Info From Local Schools" aos="41826B55" concentration="F3205941" is_lightbox="1" lightbox_btn_text="CLICK HERE TO BEGIN YOUR FIREFIGHTER JOURNEY"]Other states in the United States authorize bounty hunters providing they have the appropriate credentials and license. While other states aren’t too strict, some states are eager on letting bounty hunters do their job as long as they adhere to the rules. There are states that do not permit bounty hunting in all forms. Before becoming a bounty hunter, one should learn how the job and the work is welcomed in the state they live in.
The Prerequisites
Candidates wanting to be bounty hunters should complete other requirements, too. They must go through a criminal record check and they should pass an exam. Proof that the person is a resident of the state and a U.S. citizen is required, as well. They should have a legitimate driver’s license. There is a need for the individual to be clean from any criminal offense, be it minor or major. Some states need applicants to at least be 18 years old while others need candidates to be at least 21. But most importantly, they should go through extensive training. Those who pass the other requirements will be granted training or sent to an academy for bounty hunters. The training won’t just be physical but also intellectual since these facilities will also teach you the laws and strategies to become an excellent bounty hunter in the state. Some states even need candidates to finish specific accredited courses.
Education Requirements
Bounty hunting may only work in the state considering the hunter will abide by the laws, which is why there’s a need to master the laws of the state before being employed. The state of Washington does not enable the bounty hunters to get into a privately owned property without providing the best reason why the fugitive is inside. The police officials have to know this before the hunter could enter the premises. A 24-hour notice to the officials prior to doing the job in the state is required; after the arrest is made, the hunter is provided 60-minutes to deliver information to the same office. Internship will take place right after the training; this is where they will apply their knowledge on the field.
Accreditations And License
A license would be needed by a few states as proof that the bounty hunter have acquired training in authorized institutions. A licensure examination on the laws of the state will happen. Some states will need an age limit depending on the state, mostly 18 or 21 years old, accomplished trainings, as well as completed internship. A few states will provide a license to people who have law enforcement backgrounds. A license will allow the bounty hunter to proceed to work in the state that gave her or him the license.