We are offering you a very different kind of opportunity.
As a bail agent, or bondsman, you can be a part of the infrastructure that ensures an orderly society. You’re not a member of the police force, and you’re not a lawyer, but you still occupy an important role. Here’s what it really means to take on this unusual, rewarding career.
Amistad Bail Bonds & Associates helps maintain the legal system by assisting qualified individuals to become professional bail bond agents and run their business successfully. We provide licensing information, valuable tools for documentation, and business support. Our agency even assigns supervising bondsmen to all first-year licensees.
With our industry expertise, we give aspiring bail bond agents valuable insight into the current criminal justice industry. Being a bail bondsman is not a typical job. But we're here to provide guidance as you learn the ropes of the business. Count on us to help you thrive in the industry and make it even more reliable for our local communities.
If you want to become a professional bail bond agent in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, you can rely on us for support. The requirements of becoming a bail bondsman vary from state to state, but we cover those three states specifically.
Join us today. We'll help you find your way to success.
What Is A Bail Bondsman?
An agent, or bail bondsman is a licensed, certified professional that enters into the legal equation after a crime has been committed, an arrest made, and charges filed. You may be familiar with the concept of bail being posted for someone accused of committing a crime. Bail is money that is given to the court which, once paid, allows the accused to continue living a normal life, outside of jail until the day of trial in court arrives. This is not a “fee” in the sense that it is a transaction conducted between the court and the accused. Instead, it’s closer to a “loan” to the court, where, upon the day of trial, the amount posted is then returned to whomever it was that actually paid the bail.
This is where the bail bondsman comes in:
There are actually a few different duties and responsibilities that are involved in becoming a bail bondsman, and some choose to specialize in just one or two areas, while other people prefer to engage in every discipline. The one thing that they all have in common however, is that the bail bondsman is in some way, shape or form, responsible for ensuring that bail is paid and the accused faces trial. In some extraordinary cases, if bail is broken, the bondsman may need to pursue the accused, or have someone else do it. If the accused does not show up for trial, the bond paid is forfeited, and the court keeps it.
Getting Licensed
Becoming a bail bondsman is not like typical job that merely requires an application and a good resume. This is a serious career and it means being evaluated, licensed, and certified by the state or, in some cases, the local county.
Strict requirements are appropriate, especially since bail bond agents play an important role in the criminal justice system. They give defendants the opportunity to get out of jail before the trial by posting the bail amount for them, in the form of a bond.
The bail bond serves as an assurance that defendants will appear for their court date. As such, bail bond agents support the accused's right to freedom before an official conviction, while also playing an active role in making their client defendants appear in court proceedings.
Since they have an important legal duty, bail bond agents need to be reliable, knowledgeable, and financially capable. And these can only be measured through licensing and other requirements set by states and counties.
Depending on which state you are in, there will be slightly different requirements, but the one common area is that you will need to pass an evaluation, be issued a license, and then conduct yourself in a professional manner.
So how to be a bail bondsman? It varies from one state to the next, but we’ll cover three states here specifically: North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
Our agency guides individuals who want to become bail bond agents. We share licensing information and other tools to make the licensing process easy and convenient.
After you obtain your license, we'll continue to support you as you learn the ins and outs of the business. Count on us to be your partner as you thrive in the bail industry.
Blog Posts
Protecting Your Business: How to Get Collateral for a Bail Bond
40% of Americans say they can’t afford an emergency expense of $400 or greater. The average bail in America is set at $500. That means a large number of Americans can’t afford bail if they’re arrested. Bail bonds are a way for these people to secure their release. If you’re […]
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7 Myths About South Carolina Bail Bond Agents (and Why They’re Wrong)
The average amount for bail in the United States hovers around $10,000. For most Americans, suddenly coming up with that kind of money just isn’t possible. That’s why defendants in South Carolina and beyond look to bail bond agents to help pay their bond. With that being said, many people […]
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Important Bail Terms You Need to Know Before You Start Your Business
Are you interested in the bail industry? To get started, you must know some key bail terms such as bail, bond, collateral, and forfeiture. You must also know the different types of bonds to consider: cash bond, property bond, and surety bond. Cash and property bonds usually don’t apply to bond agents, […]
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