Bounty hunters, also known as bail enforcement authorities, trace and arrest people who have been released from law enforcement custody on bail, but who’ve failed to attend their court dates. When individuals miss their trial while out on bail, they become fugitives of the law. Fugitives are arrested by bounty hunters and returned to police custody where they will await 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 return for their professional services, bounty hunters will typically receive ten or twenty percent of the bond or bail amount as payment and they generate a yearly income that is within the range of $50,000 to $80,000. There is a high employment rate in this line of work due to the growing number of instances where people overlook court dates. Credentials will be required from those who sign up because it will give them more likelihood of getting hired.
What Does A Bail Enforcement Agent Do?
The authorities bring a person who committed a crime in the station and keep them there. Once in police custody, he will be booked and his case will be delivered to a prosecutor who will choose which charges will be placed against the arrested person. Prior to the trial, the prosecutor will have time to lay 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 defendant will show up. The trial will include the judge’s recitation of the prosecutor’s charges against the accused.
The guilty or not guilty plea will be presented by the accused. Once a plea has been reached, the presiding judge, depending on the crime the defendant is charged with, may permit the defendant to leave police custody in return for bail. Until 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 don’t slip trial dates.
The bail could be hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the charges. Bail is not always paid because not everyone could afford it. When such a situation occurs the accused may resort to a bondsman who’ll pay the bail in his place. There is a reimbursement of the bail when the defendant attends the court date. Nevertheless, 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 giving up his money, a bondsman may employ a bounty hunter to locate, arrest, and bring the defendant back into police custody. Bounty hunters will spend a lot of their time making interviews, researching their target, and performing surveillance while searching for a fugitive. However, they still have to adhere to the rules of the state while doing this.
In Washington, there must be grounds for a bounty hunter to get into the building particularly those privately owned properties. They are also needed to inform law enforcement officials that they’re going to enter that property. There is a requirement for 24 hour notices before stepping into a private property in Virginia but when the arrest is made, a report should be filed in an hour.
Preparing 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 country authorize bounty hunters providing they have the appropriate credentials and license. Following the law is important to some states particularly when it comes to the work of bounty hunters. There are states that don’t allow bounty hunting in all forms. Before becoming a bounty hunter, one must learn how the job and the work is welcomed in the state they live in.
The Prerequisites
Applicants wanting to be bounty hunters should complete other requirements, as well. They should undergo a criminal history check and they should pass an examination. They have to be a citizen of the U.S. and should be a resident of the state they would like to work in. The driver’s license should be renewed and legitimate. It is vital that they have not committed any minor or major crimes. The age requirement for candidates depends on the state’s rules; some require at least 18 years old, while others require a minimum of 21 years old. Training is the most critical part of applying for the job. Those who complete the other prerequisites will be given training or sent to an academy for bounty hunters. Besides the physical training, they’ll also be taught the various policies for a bounty hunter in the state. There are states which demand applicants to complete some courses on the field.
Academic Requirements
Bounty hunting may only operate in the state considering the hunter will comply with the laws, which is why there is a need to learn the laws of the state before being hired. The state of Washington doesn’t enable the bounty hunters to get into a privately owned property without providing the best reason why the fugitive is inside. The law enforcement officials have to know this before the hunter could get into the premises. The law enforcement office will require a bounty hunter to give information 24 hours before the arrest and 60-minutes following the arrest. Internship will take place after the training; this is where they will apply their understanding on the field.
Accreditation And Licensure
There are states that will need bounty hunters a license after they complete the training for the field. A licensure examination on the laws of the state will happen. Requirements may vary in several states but the common ones are at least 18 or 21 years of age, clear of any felonies, and a completed apprenticeship. In combination with these requirements, several states might also require that candidates have a background in law enforcement just before they could obtain a license. As soon as a bounty hunter becomes licensed he’ll be able to work freely within the state that awarded him his license.