If you have decided to switch careers to become a bail agent, then there are a few things you must know about your new profession. It is a great choice for those individuals who enjoy working in close proximity to the law and like to deal with the public. It is not a job for everyone though. There are pitfalls associated with working for a bail agency and you have to take the pros and cons into consideration when thinking about becoming a bail bond agent.
The process of using a bail agent is pretty simple. You get arrested and a judge posts how much money it will take for you to leave the jail. You call a bail bond agency and the agent is notified to come to the jail to bail you out. A ten percent fee of the total bond is paid and you are free to go until your court date. You will want to check in with the agent on a regular basis though.
Bail Bond agents are usually trained on the job though there are classes a person can take to become an agent. These classes are usually held locally and focus on the local laws, as well as the proper paperwork procedure for each bond written. Further classes can teach the bail bond agent to also be a bail enforcement agent, also known as a bounty hunter, in case the defendant skips out on the bond.
Skipping out on a bond is when the defendant does not show up to his or her court appearance. The bond is then forfeited until the time that the bounty hunter or bail bondsman can track down the individual and deliver them to the jail. This is obviously the riskier side of the job but there are other things to consider as well, such as hours that vary. Many agents are awakened in the middle of the night and must not be far from their phone. This can make life a bit difficult when trying to plan around work hours.
Being a Bail Bond Officer is a full time job that does not always pay that well. As Stan Wilson of Bail Bonds Now says, “One month it may be great money and the next there may be only a few bonds written.” Advertising plays a huge role as does your relationship with the local police officers. The more advertising and word of mouth that gets around, the more business you will have.