Bounty hunters, also called bail enforcement officers, trace and arrest individuals who have been released from police custody on bail, but who’ve failed to attend their court dates. Individuals 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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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"]Aside from the ten to twenty percent share on the bond, a bounty hunter makes $50,000 to $80,000 every year. There is a high employment rate in this line of work because of the growing number of cases where people disregard court dates. Credentials will be needed from those who sign up because it will provide them more chances of becoming employed.
What Does A Bail Enforcement Agent Do?
The police bring a person who committed a criminal offense in the station and hold them there. Once in police custody, he will be booked and his case will be sent to a prosecutor who will choose which charges will be set against the arrested individual. Prosecutors have a limited amount of time after booking takes place in which they must lay charges. Time may differ in various states but they usually take 48 to 72 hours. The court date will come and the defendant will attend. The trial will include the judge’s recitation of the prosecutor’s charges against the accused.
The judge will inquire whether the defendant pleas guilty or not guilty. Bail will be paid by the person whose charges are lifted by the judge, as he sees ideal to the case. This benefits both the judicial system and the defendant since it relieves the legal system from the expense of housing offenders, while simultaneously enabling accused to leave police custody while they wait for their trial. One may also see bail as a merit for those who do not slip trial dates.
Judges may set bail at hundreds of thousands of dollars. It is therefore not a surprise when clients are unable to cover their bail themselves. 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. Nevertheless, if the defendant prefers not to attend or misses his court date the court seizes his bail and issues a warrant for his arrest.
Bounty hunter services are hired when he bondsman learns the accused will not be able to repay the cash since he or she failed to show up at the court. The functions of the bounty hunters include interviewing, investigating, and more so that they will find who they are searching for. But while executing their tasks, bounty hunters must firmly adhere to laws and guidelines established by the state.
A few states like Washington calls for bounty hunters to get proper reason before entering a private establishment. They are also instructed to notify authorities that they are about to enter that property. In Virginia, bounty hunters are needed to give law enforcement officials notice 24 hrs before an arrest and 60 minutes 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"]There are states where a license for becoming bounty hunters is needed. Other states don’t have such a requirement, but in these states, there are strict statutes in place that regulate the practice of bounty hunting. There are states that do not allow bounty hunting in all forms. Before becoming a bounty hunter, one must find out how the job and the work is welcomed in the state they live in.
The Prerequisites
Applicants wishing to be bounty hunters need to complete other prerequisites, too. They must undergo an inspection of their criminal record and they will also take a test. Evidence that the person is a resident of the state and a U.S. citizen is necessary, as well. A valid driver’s license must be shown. They should not have made a criminal offence or misdemeanor. The age qualification for applicants depends on the state’s law; some need at least 18 years old, while others need a minimum of 21 years old. But most importantly, they should go through considerable training. Prospective bounty hunters will be given a chance to go to an academy or training center by the state. The training won’t only be physical but also intellectual because these facilities will also teach you the laws and tactics to become an effective bounty hunter in the state. Some states even require candidates to finish specific accredited courses.
Academic Prerequisites
Bounty hunting may only operate in the state providing the hunter will comply with the laws, which is why there’s a need to learn the laws of the state before being hired. States such as Washington require bounty hunters to have “reasonable cause” to think that a fugitive is presently inside a building before stepping into privately owned property. The law enforcement officials have to know this before the hunter could enter the building. In Virginia, bounty hunters are required to provide law enforcement officials notice 24 hrs prior to an arrest and 60 minutes after making the arrest. Application of the training will be next; this is known as the apprenticeship stage.
Certification And Licensure
After training is completed, several states need candidates to first get a license before they can function as bounty hunters. A licensure examination on the laws of the state will occur. Other requirements include a clean criminal record, an age that 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. In combination with these requirements, several states might also require that candidates have a background in law enforcement just before they can get a license. A license might only authorize the bounty hunter to do his work without prohibition in the state he applied for.