Pawleys Island South Carolina Bounty Hunter Salary And Job Requirements

Bounty hunters, also known as bail enforcement officers, track down and arrest individuals who have been released from police 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. Fugitives are apprehended by bounty hunters and returned to police custody where they will await trial.

Table Of Contents

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 obtain ten or twenty percent of the bond or bail sum as payment and they gain a yearly income that is within the range of $50,000 to $80,000. Because there have been numerous people who ignore trials, the line of work is searching for more personnel. Those who apply for the job complete with documents can expect the highest chances of getting hired.

Bail Enforcement Agent Work Description

The authorities bring an individual who made a crime in the station and keep them there. The individual will be taken to processing of data before a prosecutor could set a schedule on the court trial. Before the trial, the prosecutor will have enough time to lay charges. Time may vary in different states but they typically take 48 to 72 hours. 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 given by the accused. Once a plea has been made, the presiding judge, based on the crime the defendant is involved in, may permit the defendant to go out of police custody in exchange for bail. It is good for both parties since it keeps the expenses of the authorities from growing and it also provides the accused freedom until their trial. Those who show up at their court dates can even give bail as their incentive.

The amount of bail provided by the judge could be hundreds of thousand dollars. It is therefore not a surprise when clients are struggling to cover their bail themselves. When such a scenario occurs the defendant may turn to a bondsman who’ll settle the bail in his place. If the accused shows up at his court dates his bail will be refunded. However, 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 defendant will not be able to repay the amount of money since he or she did not attend the court. Bounty hunters will invest much of their time conducting interviews, researching their target, and conducting surveillance while locating a fugitive. Nevertheless, they still need to follow the rules of the state while doing this.

States like Washington need bounty hunters to get “reasonable cause” to think that a fugitive is currently within a building before getting into privately owned property. They are also instructed to notify law enforcement officials that they are about to get into that property. There is a need for 24 hour notices before entering a private property in Virginia but when the arrest is made, a report should be submitted 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 United States authorize bounty hunters considering they have the proper credentials and license. Other states don’t have such a prerequisite, but in these states, there are strict laws in place that control the practice of bounty hunting. A number of states, however, have prohibited the practice of bounty hunting entirely. Since the licensure process and prerequisites differ from one state to another, it’s important that anyone wanting to become a bounty hunter first acquire idea of what his state necessitates.

Minimum Requirements

Candidates wanting to become bounty hunters should also meet other prerequisites. They should undertake a criminal background check and they must pass an examination. They have to be a citizen of the U.S. and must be a resident of the state they wish to operate in. They should have a legitimate driver’s license. They must not have committed a felony or misdemeanor. The age requirement for candidates depends on the state’s rules; some require at least 18 years old, while others need a minimum of 21 years old. The largest factor to think about is the amount of training done. Many states need potential bounty hunters to attend an academy or community training college. The training won’t only be physical but also intellectual since these institutions will also show you the laws and strategies to become an excellent bounty hunter in the state. There are certain courses for the job, which some states will need the candidate to complete.

Education Prerequisites

Mastering the laws of the state concerning the profession of bounty hunting is important as there are many, and each must be followed to the letter if bounty hunters wish to work within that state. States like Washington need bounty hunters to have “reasonable cause” to think that a fugitive is presently inside a building before stepping into private property. They are also needed to inform law enforcement officials that they’re going to get into that property. 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. After training is completed some candidates will take part in an apprenticeship, where they’ll function with a veteran in the discipline to gain experience.

Credentials And License

After training is done, several states need candidates to first obtain a license before they could serve as bounty hunters. To receive this license, candidates should take and pass a licensing exam, that will cover the laws of the state. Other prerequisites include a clean criminal background, an age that is at least 18 or 21 depending on the state they live in, completed training courses, clean criminal records,and a completed apprenticeship program. Some states will give a license to people who have law enforcement backgrounds. When a bounty hunter becomes licensed he’ll be able to work freely within the state that awarded him his license.