A bail bondsman acts as a sort of financier who offers loans; the only difference is that these are specialized loans geared towards securing temporary freedom for accused persons either from the court or from a police station. The figure given as bail is set by a court and the accused person is expected to post it in exchange for the freedom. This is given on the premise that when a hearing or trial date is set such a person will appear to answer the charges. Failure to appear will usually result in an arrest warrant being put out for the arrest of the accused.
Like most professions, there are certain qualifications that stand out and prepare an individual for the career as a bail bondsman. The qualifications will generally from state to state and state qualifications will differ with federal requirements.
One of the qualifications needed is knowledge on banking and insurance. A bail bondsman will handle cash or property in various forms and it is imperative that such an individual has knowledge as to how apply the same to bail bonds. There are many schools across the states that cater for these specialized courses. After the completion of the courses on banking and insurance, the aspiring individual is then expected to sit for the state examination or an examination that is in line with the state regulations and certifications. Passing the examination permits one to registered as a bail bondsman according at the requisite state office.
A set of fingerprints that is taken sets this profession apart from others. The purpose of the prints is to verify if the individual applying to be a bail bondsman has a past criminal record. This is essential because this job is built on integrity of the parties involved.
If an individual intends to start their own business rather than becoming employed then such a person needs to look for a surety company and make friends with one. The surety companies guarantee that all the money that is used to bail an individual will not be lost if the accused decides to run instead of facing justice. The surety companies therefore help businesses stay afloat. The company will provide a duly filled form showing that the surety company will cover any liabilities incurred in the role of a bail bondsman.
Besides having a surety company working the newly approved agent, it is advisable to ensure that an insurance cover is taken. This cover will protect the company from going under in cases where there are many defaulters.
If the individual wants to work for a company then they have to put in an application for the position. The application for the position of a bail bondsman should be sent with a copy of the certificate of completion attached. The same procedure with the fingerprints as above will be repeated before one is employed.