Watertown South Dakota Bounty Hunter Salary And Job Requirements

The work of the bail enforcement officers or bounty hunters is to track down the whereabouts of those who have bailed out from jail but failed to attend court dates. People who cannot attend their trial dates commit wrong against the law. Fugitives are arrested by bounty hunters and returned to police custody where they’ll await trial.

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How Much Do Bounty Hunters Make?

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Apart from the ten to twenty percent share on the bond, a bounty hunter earns $50,000 to $80,000 annually. Recruitment within the line of work is expected to increase in the upcoming years due to the fact that bypassing bail is a frequent occurrence. Those who make an application for the work complete with papers can anticipate the maximum chances of getting employed.

What Types Of Tasks Does A Bail Enforcement Agent Carry Out?

When a person is arrested for a crime he is taken into police custody. The individual will be sent to processing of data before a prosecutor could set a schedule on the court trial. There is time for the prosecutor to lay charges during the time in between the booking and the court date. 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 defendant will then have to make a plea of guilty or not guilty. A process will come up and if the judge sees fit, he or she will set the person free after bail has been completed. Until the trial, the accused can live back to normal, which means the police don’t have to hold them in their custody and contributing to consumption. One may also find bail as a merit for those who don’t slip trial dates.

The amount of bail given by the judge could be hundreds of thousand dollars. Sometimes, one can’t pay the bail on their own. When such a situation comes up the defendant may turn to a bondsman who’ll settle the bail in his place. Attending the trial means the bail will get refunded. If the individual neglects the schedule and doesn’t show up, the bail will be dropped in return for a warrant of arrest.

Bounty hunter services are engaged when he bondsman finds out the defendant will not be able to pay back the money because he or she failed to show up at the court. Bounty hunters will spend a lot of their time conducting interviews, studying their target, and performing surveillance while tracking down a fugitive. But while carrying out their obligations, bounty hunters must strictly abide by laws and guidelines established by the state.

States such as Washington need bounty hunters to have “reasonable cause” to think that a fugitive is currently within a building before coming into private property. They have to confide with the law enforcement authorities if they have to get into a private premise. In Virginia, bounty hunters are expected to give law enforcement officials notice 24 hrs in advance of an arrest and 60 minutes after implementing the arrest.

Ways To Become A Bounty Hunter

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A few states require bounty hunters to have a license to operate within that state. While other states aren’t too demanding, some states are eager on letting bounty hunters perform their job as long as they adhere to the law. There are states that do not tolerate bounty hunting in any form. If an individual desires to become a bounty hunter, he or she needs to learn the rules of the states regarding the job and the work.

Minimum Requirements

There are other prerequisites that aspiring bounty hunters should present. They should go through a criminal background assessment and they must pass an exam. A U.S. citizenship is needed, along with proof that the individual is a resident of the state. The driver’s license must be renewed and valid. They should not have committed a felony or misdemeanor. Some states need applicants to at least be 18 years old while others require applicants to be at least 21. But most significantly, they should undergo considerable training. Potential bounty hunters will be granted an opportunity to go to an academy or training center by the state. The training won’t only be physical but also intellectual since these institutions will also teach you the laws and tactics to become a reliable bounty hunter in the state. Some states even require applicants to complete specific approved courses.

Education Requirements

To be employed in bounty hunting, it is essential that the person finds out the laws of the state in the matter so that no illegal actions are made during the process. States such as Washington need bounty hunters to have “reasonable cause” to assume that a fugitive is currently within a building before stepping into private property. Before entering, they have to let the authorities of the state know. In Virginia, bounty hunters are expected to give law enforcement officials notice 24 hrs before an arrest and 60 minutes after doing the arrest. Application of the training will be next; this is called the apprenticeship stage.

License And Certification

After training is completed, some states need candidates to first obtain a license before they can serve as bounty hunters. Before one will be given this license, the individual should 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. Other states will require the applicant experience in the law enforcement to gain a license. A license may only authorize the bounty hunter to accomplish his work without prohibition in the state he applied for.