Arcata California Bounty Hunter Salary And Job Requirements

Bounty hunters, also known as bail enforcement officers, track down and arrest people who have been released from law enforcement custody on bail, but who have failed to attend their court dates. People who ignore the trial schedule are considered fugitives. Fugitives are apprehended by bounty hunters and returned to police custody where they will await trial.

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What is the salary of Bounty Hunters?

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In return for their professional services, bounty hunters will typically receive ten or twenty percent of the bond or bail amount as payment and they generate an annual income that is within the range of $50,000 to $80,000. There is a high recruitment rate in this line of work because of the expanding number of instances where people disregard court dates. Credentials will be needed from those who apply since it will give them more chances of getting hired.

Bail Enforcement Agent Work Description

A criminal will be brought to the police station. The person will be brought to processing of information before a prosecutor could set a schedule on the court trial. Prosecutors have a certain amount of time after booking happens in which they must place charges. Time may vary in different states but they typically take 48 to 72 hours. The court date will come and the defendant will attend. The trial will involve the judge’s recitation of the prosecutor’s charges against the accused.

The guilty or not guilty plea will be presented by the defendant. A process will take place and if the judge sees fit, he or she will set the person free after bail has been made. Prior to the trial, the accused can live normal again, which means the police don’t have to keep them in their custody and contributing to consumption. Those who attend their court dates can even give bail as their incentive.

The bail could be hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the charges. Sometimes, one can’t pay the bail on their own. This is where the bondsman will come in to pay the bail for the defendant. Participating in the trial means the bail will get refunded. Failure to attend the trial will end up with a warrant of arrest without bail.

Bounty hunter services are engaged when he bondsman finds out the accused won’t be able to pay back the amount of money because he or she failed to show up at the court. Bounty hunters will commit a lot of their time doing interviews, studying their target, and conducting surveillance while tracking down a fugitive. But while executing their obligations, bounty hunters should firmly abide by laws and regulations set by the state.

In Washington, there should be a reason for a bounty hunter to get into the building particularly those private properties. In situations where they want to enter, they must tell the enforcement authorities. In Virginia, bounty hunters are needed to give authorities notice 24 hrs in advance of an arrest and an hour after making the arrest.

How To Become A Bounty Hunter

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Other states in the country authorize bounty hunters considering they have the appropriate credentials and license. While other states aren’t too demanding, some states are keen on letting bounty hunters perform their work 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 must find out how the job and the work is accepted in the state they live in.

Minimum Prerequisites

People wanting to be bounty hunters need to accomplish other requirements, too. There will be a test and a history check for their criminal records. A U.S. citizenship is needed, along with proof that the person is a resident of the state. A legitimate driver’s license should be shown. There is a need for the person to be clean from any criminal offense, be it minor or major. The age qualification for candidates depends on the state’s law; some require at least 18 years old, while others need a minimum of 21 years old. Training is the most crucial part of getting the job. Prospective bounty hunters will be granted a chance to go to an academy or training center by the state. There they will be shown the laws they must adhere to while working as a bounty hunter and the skills they’ll need to catch fugitives. Some states even require applicants to accomplish specific accredited courses.

Academic Requirements

Mastering the laws of the state concerning the occupation of bounty hunting is important as there are many, and each should be followed to the letter if bounty hunters want to operate within that state. There are states like Washington, which needs bounty hunters “reasonable cause” before they can enter the private property and do their work. They are also needed to inform authorities that they are planning to get into that property. A 24-hour notice to the officials prior to performing the work in the state is needed; after the arrest is done, the hunter is provided 60-minutes to send information to the same office. Apprenticeship will take place after the training; this is where they will implement their knowledge on the field.

Certification And Licensure

A license would be needed by a few states as proof that the bounty hunter have attained training in authorized institutions. Before one will be provided this license, the individual needs to pass an examination on the laws of the state. Prerequisites may vary in various states but the common ones are at least 18 or 21 years old, clear of any felonies, and a completed apprenticeship. Other states will require the applicant experience in the law enforcement to earn a license. A license will permit the bounty hunter to proceed to work in the state which gave her or him the license.