Bounty hunters, also called bail enforcement authorities, track down and arrest people 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. They are to be brought back by bounty hunters into the station so that they can attend another 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 exchange for their professional services, bounty hunters will usually receive 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. There is a high employment rate in this line of work due to the growing number of instances where people overlook court dates. Those bounty hunters with official certification and experience will get the most job opportunities open to them.
Bail Enforcement Agent Job Description
A criminal will be brought to the police station. The individual will be taken to processing of information before a prosecutor could create a schedule on the court trial. There is time for the prosecutor to lay charges during the time period in between the booking and the court date. 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 attend. The trial will include the judge’s recitation of the prosecutor’s charges against the defendant.
The defendant will then need to make a plea of guilty or not guilty. A process will take place and if the judge sees fit, he or she will set the person free after bail has been made. This helps both the judicial system and the accused since it liberates the legal system from the expense of housing offenders, while simultaneously allowing defendants to go out of police custody while they wait for their trial. Bail also works as an incentive for accused to attend their trial.
Judges may set bail at hundreds of thousands of dollars. Sometimes, one cannot pay the bail by themselves. When such a situation develops the accused may turn to a bondsman who’ll settle the bail in his place. There is a reimbursement of the bail when the defendant attends the court date. Failure to attend the trial will end up with a warrant of arrest without bail.
The bondsman will get the assistance of the Bounty hunter to search for the defendant and present him or her back to the police so that he could get the bail money back. Bounty hunters will commit a lot of their time doing interviews, studying their target, and conducting surveillance while tracking down a fugitive. While they’re at it, they still have to remember to follow the rules of the state.
In Washington, there should be grounds for a bounty hunter to get into the building particularly those private properties. In situations where they want to enter, they must inform the enforcement authorities. If the bounty hunter is in Virginia, he will have to make a 24 hour notice in advance and a 60 minute notice after the arrest.
Means 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"]A few states require bounty hunters to get a license to work within that state. Following the law is essential to some states particularly when it comes to the work of bounty hunters. There are states that do not allow bounty hunting in any form. If a person wants to become a bounty hunter, he or she needs to know the policies of the states regarding the job and the work.
Minimum Requirements
Candidates wishing to be bounty hunters need to accomplish other requirements, as well. They must go through a criminal history assessment and they should pass an exam. Proof that the person is a resident of the state and a U.S. citizen is required, as well. A legitimate driver’s license must be presented. It is vital that they haven’t committed any minor or major crimes. The age qualification for candidates depends on the state’s law; some require at least 18 years old, while others require a minimum of 21 years old. But most significantly, they must undergo thorough training. Numerous states require potential bounty hunters to attend an academy or community training college. Aside from the physical training, they’ll also be guided on the different policies for a bounty hunter in the state. There are states which need candidates to finish some courses on the field.
Academic Requirements
Mastering the laws of the state regarding the profession of bounty hunting is vital because there are many, and each should be followed to the letter if bounty hunters wish to work within that state. There are states like Washington, which needs bounty hunters “reasonable cause” before they can enter the private property and conduct their work. The law enforcement officials need to know this before the hunter could enter the property. In Virginia, bounty hunters are needed to provide police officers notice 24 hrs prior to an arrest and 60 minutes after doing the arrest. After training is accomplished some candidates will take part in an apprenticeship, where they’ll work with a veteran in the discipline to gain experience.
Certification And Licensure
A license would be required by a few states as proof that the bounty hunter have attained training in authorized institutions. Before one will be given this license, the individual needs to pass an examination on the laws of the state. Prerequisites 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 prerequisites, several states may also require that candidates have a background in law enforcement just before they can get a license. As soon as a bounty hunter becomes licensed he will be able to work freely within the state that awarded him his license.