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Difference Between a Bail Bondsman & Bounty Hunter

When people get arrested, they might call a bail bondsman to help get them out of jail. No one wants to stay behind bars if they can be released, but paying a cash bond can get expensive. Many people don’t have thousands of dollars lying around or in the bank to cover such a fee. If you need to hire a bail bondsman, you may wonder what these professionals do and how they differ from a bounty hunter. Are there any differences between the two? How can you differentiate between them? We hope to provide answers to these questions and help you understand what to expect from both professionals, should you end up getting arrested and need help getting out of jail. To learn more about these services, read below and visit https://www.bobblockbailbonds.com.  

A bail bondsman is a professional who provides a surety bond for arrested clients. You can think of a surety bond as a type of pledge made by the bail bondsman. The bail bondsman is promising to ensure the defendant will show up for their court dates. Often, the bail bondsman will create a loan on behalf of the arrested individual or a co-signer to help the person get out of jail as quickly as possible. In most cases, people can be released within a couple of hours after signing the paperwork, depending on the circumstances.  

While people frequently get the jobs of bail bondsmen and bounty hunters confused, they serve separate roles. A bounty hunter is an individual who is hired to hunt down people who are wanted fugitives. In some states, bounty hunters, by law, can track these people down, detain them, and bring them in for their arrest.

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There are times when the roles of bounty hunters and bail bondsmen intersect. For instance, sometimes a bail bondsman will hire a bounty hunter to track down a client who skipped bail. The bail bondsman will hire the bounty hunter to bring the fugitive in to stand trial. Bounty hunters will use various means to track down fugitives that have skipped bail. These professionals will employ methods of tracking and gaining information. A bounty hunter has the ability to arrest a fugitive and keep them captive to bring them back to jail. If you want to know the true differences between these two professionals, make sure you keep reading below because we will give you the answers.  

  • Bail bondsmen are employed as agents that secure the release of those in jail. These agents go through the legal process of putting up a surety bond on behalf of an inmate so they can be released.  
  • Bounty hunters may work with bail bondsmen to track down those who have skipped bail. Bail bondsmen typically are not licensed to track down or arrest fugitives like a bounty hunter. A bounty hunter does not have the authority to post a surety bond for an inmate.  
  • The bail bondsman works with their knowledge to help clients get released from jail as quickly as the legal system will allow. A bail bondsman does not carry weapons. Bounty hunters carry guns, pepper spray, and handcuffs to secure fugitives who have skipped bail.  
  • The bail bondsman works with people who have already been arrested and are in captivity. Bounty hunters work with people who are fugitives and are avoiding arrest.  
  • A bail bondsman does not need to be physically fit to perform their job. Bounty hunters have a high level of physical fitness because they need to pursue the fugitive on foot to bring them into captivity.  
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As of now, there are 22 states that require bounty hunters to get a license before they pursue fugitives. There are only four states that ban bounty hunters, and these include Illinois, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Kentucky. To get a license, there are education requirements that must be met, according to the state the person plans on operating in. Bail bondsmen must also be licensed in most states. Like bounty hunters, there are education requirements in most states. Bail bondsmen will be there if you get arrested and need a surety bond to get out of jail and go home to your family. If you skip bail, it is the bounty hunter that will come looking for you, to bring you in for arrest and to stand trial. Most people do not want to ever need the services of either professional, but they perform needful services that help the public.