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Nevada

In Nevada, laws governing bounty hunters can be found in Chapter 697, Title 57 of the Nevada Revised Statutes.  Nevada bounty hunters are known as bail enforcement agents.

Pursuant to Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 697.055, bail enforcement agent means a person who has contracted with or is employed by a surety or bail agent as a special agent to enforce the terms and conditions of a defendant’s release from custody on bail in a criminal proceeding, to locate a defendant, and to apprehend a defendant or surrender a defendant to custody, or both, if appropriate.

A person is entitled to receive, renew, or hold a license as a bail enforcement agent if the person[i]:

  • Is a natural person not less than 21 years of age.
  • Is a citizen of the U.S. or is lawfully entitled to remain and work in the U.S.
  • Has a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma or has an equivalent education as determined by the commissioner.
  • Has submitted to the commissioner, a report of an investigation of the criminal history of the person from the Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History, which indicates that the person possesses the qualifications for licensure as a bail enforcement agent.
  • Has submitted to the commissioner, the results of an examination conducted by a psychiatrist or psychologist licensed to practice in the state of Nevada, which indicate that the person does not suffer from a psychological condition that would adversely affect the ability of the person to carry out his/her duties as a bail enforcement agent.
  • Has passed any written examination required by the statute.
  • Submits to the commissioner the results of a test to detect the presence of a controlled substance in the system of the person that was administered no earlier than 30 days before the date of the application for the license which do not indicate the presence of any controlled substance for which the person does not possess a current and lawful prescription issued in the name of the person.
  • Successfully completes the training required by statute.

 

A person is not entitled to receive, renew, or hold a license of a bail enforcement agent if the person[ii]:

  • Has been convicted of a felony in the state or of any offense committed in another state which would be a felony if committed in nevada; or
  • Has been convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude, or the unlawful use, sale, or possession of a controlled substance.

 

Additionally, an applicant for a license as a bail enforcement agent must satisfactorily complete a basic course of training for bail enforcement agents that is approved by the Commissioner[iii].

An application for a license as a bail enforcement agent must be accompanied by[iv]:

  • Proof of compliance with statutory requirements.
  • A letter from a local law enforcement agency in the applicant’s county of residence which indicates that the applicant has not been convicted of a felony and has not been convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude or the unlawful use, sale, or possession of a controlled substance.

 

Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 697.325 provides that after apprehending a defendant, a bail enforcement agent should immediately or without undue delay notify in person or by telephone the local law enforcement agency of the jurisdiction in which the defendant was apprehended of:

  • The identity of the defendant;
  • The identity of the bail enforcement agent.

 

Before forcibly entering an inhabited dwelling, a bail enforcement agent should notify the local law enforcement agency of the jurisdiction in which the dwelling is located[v].

Pursuant to Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 697.325 (3), a bail enforcement agent who violates these statutory provisions is guilty of a misdemeanor.

[i] Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 697.173 (1).

[ii] Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 697.173 (2).

[iii] Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 697.177.

[iv] Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 697.186.

[v] Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 697.325 (2).


Inside Nevada