Montana has one of the most diverse terrains of any state in the union, from the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains. Glacier National Park even crosses into Canada. It’s a beautiful state full of natural wonders from the largest herd of elk in the country to the largest trumpeter swan population, to the most sightings of golden eagles in a single day in the nation. With so much open wild space, fugitives sometimes think they can hide out forever. That’s not the case with dedicated bounty hunters determined to bring them to justices. Here’s everything you need to know about becoming a Montana fugitive recovery agent.
Montana Bounty Hunter Requirements
In Montana, there is no licensing or legislation applying to fugitive recovery agents. However, legislation does regulate those dealing with bail bonds, which includes bounty hunters, and legislation regulating sureties who are permitted to make arrests.
Basic State Requirements
- Education: There are no educational requirements, but many seek training in the concepts of law and criminal justice at secondary educational institutions.
- Age: While there are no age requirements, you should be at least 18 years old.
- Degree: Some bounty hunters pursue criminal justice or related degrees to enhance their training.
- Experience: While not required, many bounty hunters have experience as investigators or in law enforcement.
- Citizenship: You should be a citizen or resident alien, or authorized to work in the United States.
Additional Requirements
- Background Screening: While background screening is not strictly necessary to be a bounty hunter in Montana, surety agents should be clear of felony or moral crime convictions.
Montana Bounty Hunter License
- License Application: There are no licensing requirements to work as a bounty hunter in Montana.
Montana Bounty Hunter Education
Many bounty hunters pursue associate’s or bachelor’s degrees in fields like criminal psychology, criminology, forensics, or criminal justice to enhance their knowledge of the law and investigative skills.
Major Cities in Montana
Major cities in Montana where a bounty hunter is most likely to find work include Billings, Missoula, Bozeman, Helena (the state capital), and Great Falls.
Job Duties of Bounty Hunters in Montana
The duties of a bounty hunter on a daily basis include tracking down bail jumpers and fugitives from the law, in exchange for a reward, or bounty, upon delivering them to justice.
Related Careers
Careers most similar and closely related to bounty hunters include process servers who serve warrants and private investigators who ply many very similar skills daily.
Employment Numbers in Montana
Employment numbers for fugitive retrieval agents are not maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, those for private investigators are, and this very similar field can provide a window into the outlook for fugitive retrieval. As of 2015, 50 P.I.s were working in Montana, with the numbers expected to increase by around 5% over the next seven years.
Montana Bounty Hunter Salary
As related to private detectives, bounty hunters in Montana should be able to expect to make, on average, around $47,810 a year.
Bounty Hunter Programs and Schools in Montana
Bounty Hunter Programs and Schools in Montana
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Choose your area of study and receive free information about programs you are interested in. Private investigators are used by law firms, law enforcement, insurance companies, as well as individuals to conduct investigations to build criminal and civil cases. A degree related to criminal justice could benefit an aspiring private investigator greatly. Request information from multiple schools to find the best program and educational opportunity for you!