How to Become a Fugitive Recovery Agent in Tampa, Florida

There are no bounty hunters allowed in the State of Florida, but you can become a licensed fugitive recovery agent, someone who is trained, certified and licensed to bring in offenders who skip out on bail and miss their court dates. It is a dangerous field, but one that can be lucrative. Fugitive recovery agents usually work with law enforcement to bring in dangerous offenders. To become one, you should have a criminal justice background or degree, and some experience in law enforcement. You can take an online course to prepare to be licensed, and you should start learning the fugitive recovery laws, especially if you do not have a criminal justice background.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Read everything you can get your hands on about the process for fugitive recovery and return in Tampa and Florida state. Be sure you know the rights of a fugitive, and how the bail bond process works. Bail bondsmen write bail bonds for fugitives, take out insurance to cover them, and if they skip bail, a recovery agent is called.

2. Train for your license through a reputable source. There are online courses available, but your best bet is to take an accredited class at a real university or community college.

3. Get involved in law enforcement by joining the US Marshals, your local police force or state police.

4. Secure your bail bondsmen license. This requires training, and some financial backing. To become a bail bondsmen in Florida, contact the states department of insurance. They will tell you exactly what courses and training you need to complete in order to become a bail bondsmen. These courses will most likely be offered through a community college or university.

5. Take the courses and then get licensed as a bail bond agent.

6. Network and offer your services as a bail bondsmen. Post your information on free websites (some are offered below) and begin your career.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are only interested in becoming a recovery agent, joining the U.S. Marshal service or another law enforcement agency that recovers fugitives, like the state and local police, is the only way to do it in Tampa, Florida. As far as part time recovery agents go, only licensed bail bondsmen can participate in this activity.
• It is a Florida State law that only a licensed bail bondsmen is allowed to act as a fugitive recovery agent. Advertising yourself as a bounty hunter or recovery agent without a license is a felony.

Resources

• Network with fugitive recovery agents to get started
• About becoming a bail bonds men
• The Florida department of insurance
• Florida bail laws
• Florida fugitive recovery laws

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