Mississippi Bounty Hunter Guide: Requirements and Steps
If you are interested in learning about jobs in the fugitive recovery field in Mississippi, this page provides information on licensing for bounty hunting and private investigation and outlines the job outlook and useful professional organizations in the state to help you succeed.
Requirements for Prospective Bounty Hunters in Mississippi
Bounty hunters in Mississippi, also known as bail enforcement agents, are licensed by the Mississippi Insurance Department, and you must have a license to work in this profession. You may find employment with a bail bond agency to retrieve individuals who fail to show up for court appearances while out on bail or work as a freelance agent for many bail bond agencies. You must be at least 21 years old, legally able to work in the United States, and have no felony convictions to become a bounty hunter in Mississippi.
Steps to a Career as a Bail Fugitive Recovery Agent in Mississippi
The following steps explain how to apply for a bail enforcement agent license in Mississippi.
1. Complete 40 hours of required training.
The Mississippi Bail Agents Association (MBAA) oversees the required 40-hour pre-licensing curriculum that you must complete before applying for your license. The training is offered at locations across the state.
2. Submit your application.
Once you have completed the required training, you can submit your application form, a passport-style photograph, and the $40 privilege tax fee. Proof of training must be sent directly to the office by your instructor. You must also have your fingerprints taken either before or at the same time you submit your application package at the Mississippi Insurance Office. Fingerprinting costs $50 and sets taken at other offices are not accepted.
3. Receive your license.
Once you have received your license, you may look for work in the state. Licenses must be renewed every two years by September 30th of odd-numbered years.
Related Careers
Besides working as a bail enforcement agent, you might also find work in a related area of criminal justice, such as private investigation or process serving. Details on both of these career options are listed below.
Private Investigator/ Private Detective
Working as a private investigator requires the ability to work on your feet and track down information and people in diverse circumstances. Mississippi is one of the few states that does not require you to have a license to work as a private investigator or detective; however, training or relevant experience will likely help you succeed if you decide to pursue this career path. Review our training recommendations for bail enforcement agents for more information.
Process Server
Process servers locate individuals who are involved in court cases and deliver documents informing them of court actions. Similar to private investigators, Mississippi does not license process servers and you can work in this field as long as you are over 18 years old. This may be a good career option to gain experience in the fugitive recovery field as it requires similar skills but the work may be of a less physical nature.
Training and Education Options in Mississippi
It is not necessary to complete any specific college education to obtain your bail enforcement agent license, but higher education in any related area may be useful. It is possible to attend law enforcement training offered by the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers’ Training Academy if you are over 21 years old, own your own firearm, and have a personal vehicle that can be used for training purposes. You might also consider attending a criminal justice or forensics degree program to learn more about the laws and legal systems impacting bail enforcement. Two- and four-year degree programs are offered at colleges and universities across the state. Several examples of these programs are provided below.
Coahoma Community College
3240 Friars Point Rd
Clarksdale, MS 38614
http://www.coahomacc.edu
Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy
3791 Hwy 468 W
Pearl, MS 39208
http://www.dps.state.ms.us
The University of Southern Mississippi, Law Enforcement Training Academy
Southern Regional Public Safety Institute
Bldg 1481, 14th St
Camp Shelby, MS 39407
https://www.usm.edu
Finding Work
Many bail enforcement agents find work with bail bond agencies in the state. These agencies post bail on behalf of clients with a contractual agreement that the client will appear in court; however, if the client does not appear, the bail bond agency may hire a bail enforcement agent to locate the individual and prevent the loss of the bail bond to the court. This work may be physically demanding and require working non-traditional hours. To gain experience, you might consider working with an experienced bail enforcement agent willing to train you and evaluate your performance. Contacting bail bond agents may be one way to finding your first job. There are 39 member bail bond agents registered in the state according to the Professional Bail Agents of the United States (PBUS) website.
Featured Bail Agents in Mississippi
Here are some bail bond agents from various areas of Mississippi that have received high customer reviews, are well-known, or have a website with contact information.
A-1 Rankin Bail Bonding
143 Maxine Dr
Pearl, MS 39208
http://a1rankinbailbonds.com
All American Bail Bonds
419 S State St
Jackson, MS 39201
http://allamericanbailbondsms.com
Aw Shucks Bail Bonds
1223 Pass Rd
Suite C
Gulfport, MS 39501
http://awshucksbail.com
Big Mama’s Bail Bonding
1000 Highland Colony Pkwy
Suite 5203
Ridgeland, MS 39157
http://www.bigmamasbailbonding.com
Culberson Bonding
499 Keywood Circle
Flowood, MS 39232
http://www.culbersonbailbonds.com
Mississippi Bonding Company
413 S President St
Suite 111
Jackson, MS 39201
http://www.msbonding.com
Find even more bail agents and bondsmen in your area using the Find a Bail Agent tool on the PBUS website.
Bounty Hunter Salary and Outlook in Mississippi
Job outlook is an important factor when considering any career; however, the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not report data on bail enforcement agents. Instead, we provide statistics and data on private investigators and detectives as these are closely related professions. Projections from 2012-2022 suggested that the number of private detectives and investigators would rise by 12.2% from 350 to 390; however, by 2015 the number had already risen to 400 individuals with an average reported salary of $33,640.1,2 Private detectives and investigators in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula and Jackson areas were reported to have higher salaries, suggesting bounty hunting may be more lucrative in these metropolitan areas compared to other areas of the state.
| City or Metropolitan Area | Number Employed | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula | 100 | $42,650 |
| Jackson | N/A* | $41,060 |
Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2015.2
*Estimate not available from the BLS.
Additional Resources
- Mississippi Bail Agents Association: Provides information on relevant issues to licensed bail agents and bail enforcement agents in the state.
- Mississippi Professional Investigators Association: Although not a licensed profession, this organization connects and provides relevant information on legal and current issues to individuals working as private investigators across the state.
References:
1. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: http://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm
2. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Mississippi: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ms.htm
3. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Query System: https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/home