Bounty hunters, also called bail enforcement officers, trace and arrest people who have been released from law enforcement custody on bail, but who’ve failed to attend their court dates. People who neglect the trial schedule are deemed fugitives. Fugitives are apprehended by bounty hunters and returned to police custody where they’ll 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 exchange for their professional services, bounty hunters will typically get ten or twenty percent of the bond or bail amount as payment and they gain a yearly salary 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 growing number of cases where people disregard court dates. Those who apply for the work complete with documents can anticipate the maximum likelihood of getting employed.
What Kinds Of Tasks Does A Bail Enforcement Agent Undertake?
The authorities bring an individual who committed a criminal offense in the station and hold them there. The prosecutor will then create a court date for the person after he has completed the required papers and records while in police custody. Before the trial, the prosecutor will have time to place charges. In some states, this period of time is 72 hrs and in others, it’s 48 hrs. The court date will come and the accused will attend. There the judge will read the charges that have been laid against the accused.
The accused will then need to make a plea of 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. Until the trial, the accused can live normal again, which means the police don’t have to hold them in their custody and contributing to consumption. Those who go to their court dates can even give bail as their motivation.
The amount of bail provided by the judge could be hundreds of thousand dollars. Sometimes, one cannot pay the bail by themselves. When such a scenario develops the accused may resort to a bondsman who’ll pay the bail in his place. Participating in the trial means the bail will be refunded. Nonetheless, if the defendant chooses not to attend or misses his court date the court seizes his bail and issues a warrant for his arrest.
Bounty hunter services are engaged when he bondsman learns the accused will not be able to repay the amount of money since he or she failed to attend the court. Bounty hunters will spend much of their time conducting interviews, researching their target, and doing surveillance while searching for a fugitive. While they are at it, they still have to remember to follow the policies of the state.
States such as Washington require bounty hunters to get “reasonable cause” to believe that a fugitive is presently within a building before coming into privately owned property. They have to confide with the law enforcement authorities if they need to get into a private property. In Virginia, bounty hunters are required to give law enforcement officials notice 24 hrs in advance of an arrest and an hour after making 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"]Some states require bounty hunters to have a license to work within that state. Other states do not have such a prerequisite, but in these states, there are demanding statutes in place that regulate the practice of bounty hunting. A number of states, however, have restricted the practice of bounty hunting entirely. If an individual wishes to become a bounty hunter, he or she has to learn the policies of the states regarding the job and the work.
The Prerequisites
Applicants wanting to be bounty hunters need to complete other requirements, too. They need to go through an inspection of their criminal history and they will also take an exam. Evidence that the individual is a resident of the state and a U.S. citizen is necessary, as well. A legitimate driver’s license must be presented. There is a need for the individual to be clean from any criminal offense, be it minor or major. The age qualification for candidates depends on the state’s law; some need at least 18 years old, while others require at least 21 years old. Training is the most critical part of getting the job. Several states require potential bounty hunters to participate in an academy or community training college. Aside from the physical training, they will also be guided on the different regulations for a bounty hunter in the state. There are states which need applicants to finish a few courses on the field.
Academic Requirements
To be employed in bounty hunting, it is important that the person finds out the laws of the state in the matter so that no illegal actions are made in the middle of the process. States like Washington need bounty hunters to possess “reasonable cause” to believe that a fugitive is currently inside a building before stepping into privately owned property. They are also needed to notify police officers that they’re preparing to enter that property. The law enforcement office will require a bounty hunter to present information 24 hours before the arrest and 60-minutes after the arrest. Apprenticeship will take place after the training; this is where they will apply their understanding on the field.
License And Certification
There are states that will require bounty hunters a license once they finish the training for the field. To get this license, candidates should take and pass a licensing exam, that will cover the laws of the state. A few states will need an age limit depending on the state, mostly 18 or 21 years of age, accomplished trainings, as well as completed internship. A few states will provide a license to people who have law enforcement backgrounds. When a bounty hunter becomes licensed he will be able to work freely within the state that awarded him his license.