Sykesville Maryland Bounty Hunter Salary And Job Requirements

Bounty hunters, also known as bail enforcement officials, track down and arrest individuals who have been released from police custody on bail, but who have 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.

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What’s the salary of Bounty Hunters?

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Apart from the ten to twenty percent share on the bail, a bounty hunter earns $50,000 to $80,000 every year. Since there have been many individuals who skip trials, the field is looking for more employees. Credentials will be needed from those who sign up because it will give them more likelihood of getting hired.

Bail Enforcement Agent Job Description

When a person is arrested for a criminal offense he is taken into police custody. Once in police custody, he will be booked and his case will be sent to a prosecutor who will decide which charges will be placed against the arrested individual. There is time for the prosecutor to place charges during the time in between the booking and the court date. In a few states, this period is 72 hrs and in others, it’s 48 hrs. The court date will come and the defendant will show up. There the judge will read the charges that have been placed against the accused.

The judge will ask whether the accused pleas guilty or not guilty. Once a plea has been made, the presiding judge, based on the crime the defendant is involved in, may enable the defendant to leave police custody in exchange for bail. It is necessary for both parties since it keeps the expenditures of the police from increasing and it also gives the defendant freedom until their trial. Bail also works as an incentive for offenders to participate in their trial.

The bail could be hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the charges. It is therefore not a surprise when clients are struggling to cover their bail themselves. This is where the bondsman will come in to cover the bail for the defendant. There is a refund of the bail when the defendant attends the court date. Failure to attend the trial will turn out with a warrant of arrest without bail.

To prevent losing his money, a bondsman may get a bounty hunter to track down, arrest, and take the defendant back into police custody. The works of the bounty hunters include interviewing, researching, and more so that they will find who they are seeking. However, they still need to abide by the rules of the state while carrying this out.

States such as Washington call for bounty hunters to have “reasonable cause” to believe that a fugitive is currently within a building before coming into private property. They should confide with the law enforcement authorities if they have to get into a private premise. There is a need for 24 hour notices before stepping into a private property in Virginia but when the arrest is made, a report should be submitted in an hour.

How To Become A Bounty Hunter

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Some states require bounty hunters to have a license to operate within that state. Adhering to the law is crucial to some states particularly when it comes to the work of bounty hunters. A few states, however, have restricted the practice of bounty hunting completely. Since the licensure process and prerequisites vary from state to state, it’s important that anyone wishing to become a bounty hunter first acquire knowledge of what his state needs.

The Prerequisites

There are other requirements that soon to be bounty hunters must present. They should undergo an inspection of their criminal record and they will also take an exam. Proof that the individual is a resident of the state and a U.S. citizen is required, as well. They should have a legitimate driver’s license. There is a need for the person to be clear from any crime, be it minor or major. Some states need candidates to at least be 18 years of age while others require applicants to be at least 21. Training is the most important part of applying for the job. Those who pass the other prerequisites will be given training or brought to an academy for bounty hunters. There they will be taught the laws they need to comply with while operating as a bounty hunter and the skills they’ll need to capture fugitives. There are states which demand candidates to finish some courses on the field.

Academic Requirements

Bounty hunting may only operate in the state considering the hunter will abide by the laws, which is why there is a need to master the laws of the state before being hired. States such as Washington need bounty hunters to possess “reasonable cause” to think that a fugitive is presently inside a building before entering private property. They are also needed to notify authorities that they’re preparing to enter that property. In Virginia, bounty hunters are expected to give police officers notice 24 hrs in advance of an arrest and 60 minutes after doing the arrest. Application of the training will be next; this is called the apprenticeship stage.

Certification And Licensure

A license would be needed by some states as proof that the bounty hunter have attained training in authorized institutions. To receive this license, candidates should take and pass a licensing exam, which will cover the laws of the state. Requirements may vary in numerous states but the common ones are at least 18 or 21 years of age, clear of any felonies, and a completed apprenticeship. Several states will provide a license to those 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.