Bounty hunters, also called bail enforcement officers, track down and arrest individuals who have been released from police custody on bail, but who have failed to attend their court dates. Individuals who neglect the trial schedule are considered fugitives. Fugitives are arrested 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 return for their professional services, bounty hunters will typically obtain 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. There is a high employment rate in this field because of the growing number of instances where people disregard court dates. Those bounty hunters with official certification and experience will get the most job opportunities open to them.
What Does A Bail Enforcement Agent Undertake?
The authorities bring a person who committed a criminal offense in the station and hold them there. The prosecutor will then create a court date for the individual after he has finished the necessary papers and records while in police custody. Before the trial, the prosecutor will have time to place charges. In a few states, this period of time is 72 hrs and in others, it’s 48 hrs. The defendant will have to show up at the trial on the scheduled date. The trial will involve the judge’s recitation of the prosecutor’s charges against the defendant.
The guilty or not guilty plea will be presented by the accused. A process will take place and if the judge sees fit, he or she will let the person free after bail has been completed. Until 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. One may also find bail as a merit for those who do not slip trial dates.
The sum of bail provided by the judge could be hundreds of thousand dollars. It is therefore not a surprise when clients are unable to pay their bail themselves. This is where the bondsman will come in to cover the bail for the defendant. If the defendant shows up at his court dates his bail will be refunded. Nevertheless, if the defendant prefers not to show up 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 discovers the defendant won’t be able to repay the cash because he or she did not show up at the court. A bounty hunter will carry out interviews, researches, and many more activities if it means that they could bring back the individual to police custody. But while performing their tasks, bounty hunters should strictly abide by laws and guidelines placed by the state.
A few states such as Washington requires bounty hunters to have proper reason before getting into a private establishment. In instances where they wish to enter, they must tell the enforcement authorities. If the bounty hunter is in Virginia, he will have to make a 24 hour notice ahead of time and a 60 minute notice following the arrest.
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"]Other states in the United States authorize bounty hunters considering they have the appropriate credentials and license. Following the law is essential to some states particularly when it comes to the work of bounty hunters. Some states prohibit bounty hunting in general. If a person wishes to become a bounty hunter, he or she needs to learn the policies of the states about the job and the work.
Minimum Prerequisites
Applicants planning to be bounty hunters have to complete other requirements, as well. They must undertake a criminal history assessment and they must pass an examination. Evidence that the individual is a resident of the state and a U.S. citizen is necessary, as well. They must have a legitimate driver’s license. It is vital that they have not committed any minor or major criminal offenses. Some states call for candidates to at least be 18 years old while others require applicants to be at least 21. But most significantly, they must go through considerable training. Several states require potential bounty hunters to attend an academy or community training college. Besides the physical training, they will also be guided on the different policies for a bounty hunter in the state. There are specific courses for the job, which some states will require the candidate to accomplish.
Academic Requirements
Bounty hunting may only work in the state providing the hunter will abide by the laws, which is why there’s a need to know the laws of the state before being hired. There are states like Washington, which needs bounty hunters “reasonable cause” before they can enter the private property and conduct their job. The law enforcement officials need to know this before the hunter could enter the building. A 24-hour notice to the authorities prior to doing the work in the state is needed; after the arrest is made, the hunter is given 60-minutes to deliver information to the same office. After training is accomplished some candidates will take part in an apprenticeship, where they’ll function with a veteran in the discipline to get experience.
Certification And Licensure
A license would be needed by several states as proof that the bounty hunter have acquired training in authorized institutions. Before one will be provided this license, the individual needs to pass an examination on the laws of the state. Requirements may vary in different 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 before they could get a license. A license might only authorize the bounty hunter to do his work without prohibition in the state he applied for.