If you helped a friend or family member pay bail and they skipped their court date, you’re out of money. You can hire a fugitive recovery agent to track them down and return them to the courthouse.
A fugitive recovery agent is a private individual who searches for fugitives on behalf of bail agents (also known as a bounty hunter). The career requires great personal judgment and the ability to wear many hats.
Training
Fugitive recovery is going after people who have skipped their court dates. It is often because they were released on bail, which means the person had to pay a certain amount before leaving prison.
Bail bond agents are entitled to hire bounty hunters to help them locate these fugitives and return them to the courtroom. About 97 percent of these experts’ targets are found and taken into custody.
A great approach to getting ready for a career as a fugitive recovery North Carolina agent is to receive the appropriate training. There are rules in several states about how much time bounty hunters must spend training before they can start working.
Licenses
Depending on the state where you plan to work as a bail recovery agent, you may need to obtain a license from the regulating agency in your jurisdiction. It requires many requirements, including formal training, a background check, and a written exam.
The qualifications for a bail recovery agent license vary by state, but most states require that you have a high school diploma or equivalent GED certificate. You must also disclose any past criminal convictions or felony charges on your application.
In most cases, you must complete a 20-hour training course from an approved training provider. During this training, you learn about the laws governing bail recovery agents in your state and professional information related to the field. Once you have completed the course, you can apply for your license. This process can take a few months to complete. During this time, you must provide your certificate of completion from the training program and proof of your fingerprints, a credit report, and criminal history check.
Equipment
Fugitive recovery agents must have various equipment to help them track their targets. It includes a reliable vehicle and surveillance equipment. They may also want to add a set of high-quality binoculars and night vision goggles.
Bounty hunters specialize in tracking down people who have skipped bail. They are trained in skip tracing, surveillance techniques, and law enforcement tactics.
If you’re new to fugitive recovery, you must have the right equipment. You’ll also need good handcuffs to keep you from getting hurt. You can even get high-quality embroidered patches to show off your credentials. It is a great way to show off your skills and help you stand out. You can also use them as gifts for friends and family members in the same line of work.
Safety
Fugitive recovery is a dangerous profession and requires extensive training. Be aware of the risk factors of the suspect you’re tracking and have a contingency plan for when things go wrong. Before attempting a high-risk operation, you should also know your weapons, safety equipment, and vehicles inside out. For any agent, having the appropriate tools for the job might mean the difference between life and death. Besides the obvious, wear a brightly colored uniform that clearly identifies you as an officer in charge and that you are adequately rested. Before attempting a snafu-free arrest, you should also know the fugitive’s name and location. The fender, as mentioned earlier bender was likely since you failed to verify the defendant’s name, address, and contact information before attempting a takedown.
