The work of the bail enforcement officers or even bounty hunters is to trace the location of those who have bailed out from jail but failed to attend court dates. Once 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 Make?
[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 services, bounty hunters will usually get ten or twenty percent of the bond or bail amount as payment and they earn a yearly income that is within the range of $50,000 to $80,000. Since there have been many people who skip trials, the line of work is searching for more employees. Credentials will be required from those who apply since it will give them more chances of getting employed.
What Does A Bail Enforcement Agent Do?
A criminal will be brought to the police station. The prosecutor will then set a court date for the person after he has completed the needed papers and records while in police custody. Prior to the trial, the prosecutor will have enough time to lay charges. In some states, this period is 72 hrs and in others, it’s 48 hrs. After charges have been placed, the defendant is introduced before the court. The trial will involve the judge’s recitation of the prosecutor’s charges against the defendant.
The judge will inquire whether the accused pleas guilty or not guilty. 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. It is good for both parties because it keeps the expenditures of the authorities from growing and it also gives the defendant freedom until their trial. Bail also works as an incentive for defendants to go to their trial.
The sum of bail given by the judge could be hundreds of thousand dollars. It is therefore not really a surprise when clients are unable to pay their bail themselves. When such a situation comes up the defendant may resort 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. If the individual overlooks the schedule and does not show up, the bail will be dropped in exchange for a warrant of arrest.
To prevent giving up his money, a bondsman may get a bounty hunter to locate, arrest, and take the defendant back into law enforcement custody. A bounty hunter will perform interviews, researches, and many more activities if it means they could bring back the individual to law enforcement custody. But while performing their duties, bounty hunters must firmly stick to laws and regulations set by the state.
States like Washington require bounty hunters to get “reasonable cause” to believe that a fugitive is currently within a premise before coming into privately owned property. They should confide with the law enforcement officials if they have to enter a private premise. There is a need for 24 hour notices before getting into a private property in Virginia but when the arrest is completed, a report must be filed in an hour.
Getting Ready 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. Adhering to the law is important to some states especially when it comes to the function of bounty hunters. Some states restrict bounty hunting on the whole. Since the licensure procedure and prerequisites differ from one state to another, it’s essential that anyone planning to become a bounty hunter first gain knowledge of what his state necessitates.
The Prerequisites
Candidates wanting to be bounty hunters should accomplish other prerequisites, as well. They should undertake a criminal history assessment and they must pass an exam. A U.S. citizenship is needed, together with evidence that the individual is a resident of the state. They should have a valid driver’s license. It is important that they have not made any minor or major criminal offenses. Some states need candidates to at least be 18 years of age while others need applicants to be at least 21. But most importantly, they must go through considerable training. Those who pass the other requirements will be given training or brought to an academy for bounty hunters. Apart from the physical training, they will also be guided on the different regulations for a bounty hunter in the state. Some states even require candidates to finish specific accredited courses.
Academic Requirements
Bounty hunting may only work in the state providing the hunter will comply with the laws, which is why there’s a need to know the laws of the state before being employed. There are states like Washington, which requires bounty hunters “reasonable cause” before they can enter the private property and perform their job. The law enforcement officials need to know this before the hunter could enter the premises. In Virginia, bounty hunters are expected to give authorities notice 24 hrs before an arrest and 60 minutes after making the arrest. Apprenticeship will take place right after the training; this is where they will implement their knowledge on the field.
License And Certification
After training is completed, some states need candidates to first obtain a license before they can work as bounty hunters. To receive this license, candidates should take and pass a licensing exam, that will cover the laws of the state. Other requirements include a clean criminal history, 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. Other states will need the applicant experience in the law enforcement to earn a license. A license will permit the bounty hunter to proceed to work in the state that gave her or him the license.