Bounty hunters, also known as bail enforcement authorities, track down 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?
[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 services, bounty hunters will usually obtain ten or twenty percent of the bond or bail sum as payment and they earn a yearly income that is within the range of $50,000 to $80,000. There is a high employment rate in this field due to the growing number of cases where people disregard court dates. Those bounty hunters with official certification and working experience will have the most job opportunities open to them.
Bail Enforcement Agent Job Description
A criminal will be taken to the police station. The person will be sent to processing of information before a prosecutor could specify a schedule on the court trial. Prior to the trial, the prosecutor will have enough time to place charges. In some states, this period of time is 72 hrs and in others, it’s 48 hrs. The defendant will have to attend the trial on the scheduled date. The trial will include the judge’s recitation of the prosecutor’s charges against the defendant.
The guilty or not guilty plea will be given by the accused. Once a plea has been made, the presiding judge, based on the crime the accused is involved in, may enable the defendant to go out of police custody in exchange for bail. 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. One may also see bail as a merit for those who do not slip trial dates.
The bail could be hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the charges. It is therefore not a surprise when clients are struggling to pay their bail themselves. This is where the bondsman will come in to cover the bail for the defendant. If the defendant shows up at his court dates his 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.
To avoid losing his money, a bondsman may hire a bounty hunter to track down, arrest, and bring the defendant back into law enforcement custody. Bounty hunters will commit much of their time conducting interviews, studying their target, and conducting surveillance while tracking down a fugitive. While they’re at it, they still need to remember to follow the rules of the state.
States like Washington require bounty hunters to get “reasonable cause” to think that a fugitive is presently within a building before coming into privately owned property. In cases where they wish to enter, they need to tell the enforcement officials. If the bounty hunter is in Virginia, he will need to make a 24 hour notice beforehand and a 60 minute notice following the arrest.
How 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 required. While other states are not too demanding, some states are eager on letting bounty hunters do their job as long as they adhere to the rules. There are states that don’t tolerate bounty hunting in any form. Before becoming a bounty hunter, one must find out how the job and the work is accepted in the state they reside in.
The Prerequisites
Candidates planning to become bounty hunters must also comply with other prerequisites. They must undergo an inspection of their criminal record and they will also take an examination. They must be a citizen of the U.S. and should be a resident of the state they would like to function in. A legitimate driver’s license should be shown. It is essential that they have not committed any minor or major crimes. Some states need candidates to at least be 18 years old while others need candidates to be at least 21. But most significantly, they must undergo considerable training. Those who complete the other requirements will be granted training or brought to an academy for bounty hunters. There they will be taught the laws they must follow while functioning as a bounty hunter and the skills they’ll require to catch fugitives. Some states even need candidates to complete particular accredited courses.
Academic Prerequisites
To be employed in bounty hunting, it is essential that the person finds out the laws of the state in the matter so that no illegal actions are committed in the middle of the process. There are states such as Washington, which requires bounty hunters “reasonable cause” before they can get into the privately owned property and do their work. They are also needed to notify authorities that they’re planning to enter that property. The law enforcement office will need a bounty hunter to give information 24 hours before the arrest and 60-minutes following the arrest. Internship will take place right after the training; this is where they will implement their understanding on the field.
Certification And Licensure
There are states that will require bounty hunters a license once they complete the training for the field. A licensure examination on the laws of the state will occur. Requirements may vary in several states but the common ones are at least 18 or 21 years old, clear of any felonies, and a completed apprenticeship. Some states will provide a license to those who have law enforcement backgrounds. A license will allow the bounty hunter to proceed to work in the state that gave her or him the license.