The work of the bail enforcement officers or bounty hunters is to trace the location of those who have bailed out from jail but failed to attend court dates. People who ignore the trial schedule are deemed fugitives. Fugitives are apprehended by bounty hunters and returned to police custody where they will await trial.
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How much are you paid as 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"]In return for their professional services, bounty hunters will typically obtain ten or twenty percent of the bond or bail sum as payment and they gain an annual income that is within the range of $50,000 to $80,000. There is a high employment rate in this line of work because of the expanding number of instances where individuals overlook court dates. Those who sign up for the job complete with documents can anticipate the highest chances of getting hired.
What Does A Bail Enforcement Agent Do?
When an individual is arrested for a criminal offense he is taken into police custody. Once in police custody, he will be booked and his case will be delivered to a prosecutor who will decide which charges will be placed against the arrested person. Prior to the trial, the prosecutor will have time to place charges. In a few states, this period is 72 hrs and in others, it’s 48 hrs. The accused will need to attend the trial on the scheduled date. The defendant will know the charges filed against him or her from the judge.
The guilty or not guilty plea will be given by the accused. Once a plea has been made, the presiding judge, depending on the crime the accused is charged with, may permit the defendant to go out of police custody in exchange for bail. It is beneficial for both parties since it keeps the expenditures of the authorities from growing and it also gives the defendant freedom until their trial. Bail also serves as an incentive for accused to attend their trial.
Judges may place bail at hundreds of thousands of dollars. Sometimes, one cannot pay the bail by themselves. This is where the bondsman will come in to cover the bail for the defendant. Going to the trial means the bail will get refunded. Failure to go to 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 repay the money since he or she didn’t show up at the court. Bounty hunters will spend much of their time conducting interviews, studying their target, and conducting surveillance while searching for a fugitive. Nevertheless, they still need to abide by the rules of the state while doing this.
A few states like Washington calls for bounty hunters to get proper reason before entering a private establishment. They must confide with the law enforcement authorities if they have to enter a private property. If the bounty hunter is in Virginia, he will need to make a 24 hour notice ahead of time and a 60 minute notice after the arrest.
Means 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. Following the law is important to some states especially when it comes to the job of bounty hunters. Some states forbid bounty hunting in general. If an individual wants to become a bounty hunter, he or she has to learn the rules of the states regarding the job and the work.
The Prerequisites
There are other requirements that aspiring bounty hunters should submit. They should undertake a criminal background assessment and they must pass an examination. Evidence that the individual is a resident of the state and a U.S. citizen is necessary, as well. They should have a valid driver’s license. They must not have committed a criminal offence or misdemeanor. The age qualification for candidates depends on the state’s rules; some require at least 18 years old, while others require a minimum of 21 years old. But most importantly, they must undergo thorough training. Prospective bounty hunters will be granted a chance to go to an academy or training center by the state. There they will be taught the laws they need to follow while operating as a bounty hunter and the abilities they’ll need to seize fugitives. There are states which demand candidates to accomplish some courses on the field.
Academic Requirements
Bounty hunting may only operate in the state considering the hunter will follow the laws, which is why there is a need to know the laws of the state before being employed. States such as Washington require bounty hunters to possess “reasonable cause” to believe that a fugitive is currently within a building before stepping into private property. The law enforcement officials have to know this before the hunter could enter the property. In Virginia, bounty hunters are expected to provide police officers notice 24 hrs prior to an arrest and 60 minutes after doing the arrest. Internship will take place right after the training; this is where they will implement their knowledge on the field.
Accreditation And Licensure
There are states that will require bounty hunters a license once they finish the training for the field. Before one will be provided this license, the individual must pass an examination on the laws of the state. Other specifications include a clean criminal background, an age which is at least 18 or 21 depending on the state they reside in, finished training courses, clean criminal history records,and a completed apprenticeship program. Some states will give a license to people who have law enforcement backgrounds. As soon as a bounty hunter becomes licensed he will be able to work freely within the state that awarded him his license.