How to Become a Bail Enforcement Agent

Working as a bail enforcement agent can be as exciting and rewarding as it is potentially dangerous. With the proper local contacts, bail recovery education and licensing you can be safe, effective and confident. Read on for more information on how to become a bail enforcement agent.

Instructions

1. Make sure your state has commercial bail. There are a few states such as Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon and Wisconsin that do not allow commercial bail. Other states may allow commercial bail but often have state or county-specific statutes. Make it your business to know the specifics.

2. Network with local law enforcement in your area. Talk with sheriffs, deputies and police officers about the opportunities for local bail enforcers. It pays to know the local criminal defense and prosecuting attorneys as well as judges. Contacts like these will all be instrumental to you in the bail enforcement business.

3. Research. Read up as much as you can on bail law. "Apprehending Bail Fugitives" by L. Scott Harrell and "Bail Bonds 101" by Sean M. Cook are two of many great resources written by experienced bail enforcement agents.

4. Contact the Department of Insurance in your state to obtain a license. Many states do not have a specific license for bail enforcement agents, in which case the license you will need is for property and casualty insurance. Let the folks at the Department of Insurance know that you need the license to begin posting surety bonds so that you make sure to get the appropriate license in your state.

5. Complete the education course necessary in your state to obtain a bail enforcement license. Sometimes the state will require a separate license exam so be sure to ask.

6. Find an insurance company to work with. Unless you are independently wealthy enough to write bonds on your own you will need an insurance company to back the bond in the event that your fugitive recovery effort fails. Ask around to find an insurance company with a good track record of dealing with bail enforcement agents.

7. Work with your insurance company to set up a FDIC-insured build-up-fund (BUF). The BUF is a portion of an agent's money that is held in trust by the company to ensure that the bail enforcement agent fulfills his contract. If recovery efforts are successful then the BUF can build to provide a nice retirement fund. However, if a recovery effort were to fail money will be deducted from the BUF to pay necessary judgments.

Resources

• Bail Bonds 101
• Professional Bail Agents of the United States