No one ever said that being a bail bondsman was an easy business. If you’re considering a career change, there are a few things you need to know about the business.
Being a bail bondsman is not for everyone. It’s about dealing with the public and dealing with law enforcement personnel. If you know the pitfalls and dangers, along with the pertinent information, then you may find that this job is the ideal profession you’ve been searching for your entire life.
The process of using a bail bondsman is quite simple. You get arrested and a judge posts how much money it will cost you to get out of jail. You call a bail bond agency and the agent is notified to come to the jail to get you out. A fee of ten percent of the total bonus is paid and you are free to walk away until your short date. However, you will want to check with the agent regularly.
Bail bondsmen usually receive on-the-job training, although there are classes a person can take to become an agent. These classes are generally held locally and focus on local laws as well as the proper paperwork procedure for each bond issued. Other classes may teach the bail bondsman to also be a bail enforcement officer, also known as a bounty hunter, in case the defendant skips bail.
Skip one is when the defendant does not appear for their court appearance. It is then lost until such time as the bounty hunter or bondsman can track the individual down and land them in jail.
Obviously, this is the riskier side of the job, but there are other things to consider as well, like the hours that vary. Many agents wake up in the middle of the night and don’t have to be far from their phone. This can make life a bit difficult when it comes to planning work hours.
There is something to keep in mind when you are wondering about the salary of a bail bond agent. It is important to note that there are no guarantees of making money in this line of work.
There are many factors such as population, reputation, and advertising that play a role in how much business you will receive. Stan Wilson of Bail Bonds Now says, “One month it might be big money and the next it might only be a few bonds being issued.”