The work of the bail enforcement officers or bounty hunters is to track down the whereabouts of those people who have bailed out from jail but failed to attend court dates. Individuals who neglect the trial schedule are deemed fugitives. Fugitives are apprehended by bounty hunters and returned to police custody where they’ll await trial.
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How Much Money 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 typically get ten or twenty percent of the bond or bail amount as payment and they gain an annual salary that is within the range of $50,000 to $80,000. Since there have been numerous people who skip trials, the line of work is searching for more personnel. Those bounty hunters with official certification and experience will get the most job opportunities open to them.
What Does A Bail Enforcement Agent Do?
When a person is arrested for a criminal offense he is taken into police custody. The person will be taken to processing of records before a prosecutor could specify a schedule on the court trial. Before the trial, the prosecutor will have time to lay charges. In a few states, this period is 72 hrs and in others, it’s 48 hrs. The accused will need to go to the trial on the scheduled date. The accused will be aware of charges filed against him or her from the prosecutor.
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 leave police custody in exchange for bail. Prior to the trial, the defendant can live normal again, which means the authorities don’t have to hold them in their custody and contributing to consumption. Bail also works as a reason for defendants to participate in their trial.
Judges may place bail at hundreds of thousands of dollars. Bail is not usually paid because not everyone could afford it. A bondsman will cover the bail for the defendant in this case. Attending the trial means the 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.
The bondsman will get the assistance of the Bounty hunter to search for the defendant and present him or her back to the authorities so that he could have the bail money back. A bounty hunter will perform interviews, researches, and a lot more activities if it means they could return the person to law enforcement custody. But while performing their duties, bounty hunters must strictly abide by laws and guidelines established by the state.
Some states like Washington needs bounty hunters to have adequate reason before coming into a private facility. In situations where they wish to enter, they should tell the enforcement authorities. If the bounty hunter is in Virginia, he will need to make a 24 hour notice ahead of time and a 60 minute notice following the arrest.
Ways 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 authorization for becoming bounty hunters is necessary. While other states are not too demanding, some states are keen on letting bounty hunters do their work as long as they adhere to the rules. Some states forbid bounty hunting on the whole. If an individual wants to become a bounty hunter, he or she needs to learn the rules of the states regarding the job and the work.
Minimum Requirements
People wishing to be bounty hunters need to complete other requirements, as well. There will be a test and a history check for their police records. They should be a citizen of the U.S. and should be a resident of the state they wish to operate in. They should possess a legitimate driver’s license. There is a need for the person to be clear from any crime, be it minor or major. In other states, applicants could be 18 years of age, while some states require them to be at least 21 years old. But most importantly, they must undergo thorough training. Those who pass the other prerequisites will be given training or brought to an academy for bounty hunters. Besides the physical training, they will also be guided on the various rules for a bounty hunter in the state. Some states even demand applicants to finish specific approved courses.
Academic Requirements
To be employed in bounty hunting, it is necessary that the individual learns the laws of the state in the matter so that no illegal actions are made during the process. The state of Washington doesn’t enable the bounty hunters to enter a privately owned property without giving the best reason why the fugitive is inside. They are also needed to inform law enforcement officials that they are about to get into that property. The law enforcement office will require a bounty hunter to give information 24 hours before the arrest and 60-minutes after the arrest. Application of the training will be next; this is known as the apprenticeship stage.
Accreditation And Licensure
After training is completed, several states need candidates to first obtain a license before they could work as bounty hunters. To get this license, candidates should take and pass a licensing exam, that will cover the laws of the state. Prerequisites may vary in numerous states but the common ones are at least 18 or 21 years old, clear of any felonies, and a completed apprenticeship. In combination with these prerequisites, several states might also require that candidates have a background in law enforcement just before they can acquire a license. A license will allow the bounty hunter to proceed to work in the state that gave him or her the license.