Frankfort Indiana Bounty Hunter Salary And Job Requirements

Bounty hunters, also known as bail enforcement officials, trace and arrest individuals who have been released from law enforcement custody on bail, but who’ve failed to attend their court dates. Once individuals miss their trial while out on bail, they become fugitives of the law. They are 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?

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In exchange for their professional services, bounty hunters will usually get ten or twenty percent of the bond or bail sum 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 growing number of cases where individuals disregard court dates. Credentials will be needed from those who apply because it will give them more chances of becoming hired.

What Does A Bail Enforcement Agent Perform?

A criminal will be taken to the police station. The prosecutor will then establish a court date for the individual after he has completed the needed papers and records while in police custody. There is time for the prosecutor to lay charges during the time in between the booking and the court date. In some states, this period of time is 72 hrs and in others, it’s 48 hrs. After charges have been set, the defendant is brought before the court. The accused will know the charges filed against him or her from the prosecutor.

The judge will inquire whether the accused pleas guilty or not guilty. A process will take place and if the judge sees fit, he or she will let the individual free after bail has been completed. This helps both the judicial system and the accused since it relieves the judicial system from the expense of housing offenders, while concurrently permitting defendants to leave police custody while they wait for their trial. Bail also serves as an incentive for defendants to attend their trial.

The bail could be hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the charges. Sometimes, one can’t pay the bail by themselves. When such a situation arises the accused may resort to a bondsman who’ll pay the bail in his place. Attending the trial means the bail will get refunded. Failure to go to the trial will turn out with a warrant of arrest without bail.

Bounty hunter services are engaged when he bondsman discovers the defendant won’t be able to repay the amount of money because he or she didn’t show up at the court. Bounty hunters will invest a lot of their time making interviews, researching their target, and doing surveillance while locating a fugitive. While they’re at it, they still have to remember to follow the regulations of the state.

In Washington, there must be a good reason for a bounty hunter to go into the building especially those private properties. In instances where they wish to enter, they have to tell the enforcement officials. In Virginia, bounty hunters are expected to give police officers notice 24 hrs before an arrest and an hour after making the arrest.

Ways 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 are not too strict, some states are eager on letting bounty hunters perform their work as long as they follow the rules. A number of states, however, have prohibited the practice of bounty hunting completely. Before becoming a bounty hunter, one must discover how the job and the work is welcomed in the state they reside in.

Minimum Prerequisites

Candidates wishing to become bounty hunters should also meet other prerequisites. There will be an exam and a background check for their criminal records. Proof that the person is a resident of the state and a U.S. citizen is needed, as well. A legitimate driver’s license must be presented. It is essential that they have not committed any minor or major crimes. In other states, applicants could be 18 years old, while some states need them to be at least 21 years old. But most significantly, they must go through thorough training. Those who pass the other prerequisites will be given training or brought to an academy for bounty hunters. Aside from the physical training, they will also be guided on the various rules for a bounty hunter in the state. There are states which need candidates to accomplish some courses on the field.

Academic Prerequisites

Bounty hunting may only operate in the state providing the hunter will abide by the laws, which is why there’s a need to know the laws of the state before being hired. There are states like Washington, which needs bounty hunters “reasonable cause” before they can enter the privately owned property and perform their job. The law enforcement officials need to know this before the hunter could enter the building. In Virginia, bounty hunters are needed to give police officers notice 24 hrs in advance of an arrest and 60 minutes after doing the arrest. Application of the training will be next; this is known as the apprenticeship stage.

Accreditation And Licensure

A license will be required by some states as proof that the bounty hunter have acquired training in authorized institutions. Before one will be provided this license, the individual should pass an examination on the laws of the state. Requirements may vary in different 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 may only authorize the bounty hunter to accomplish his work without prohibition in the state he applied for.