Virginia Law

A. Persons required to be licensed pursuant to subdivision 47 of § 9.1-102 of the Code of Virginia as a bail enforcement agent shall meet all licensure requirements in this section. Persons who carry or have access to a firearm while on duty must have a valid license with a firearms endorsement as described under 6VAC20-260-80. If carrying a handgun concealed, the person must also (i) have a valid concealed handgun permit pursuant to Article 6.1 (§ 18.2-307.1 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia and (ii) the written permission of his employer.

B. Each person applying for a bail enforcement agent license shall meet the minimum requirements for eligibility as follows:

1. Be a minimum of 21 years of age;

2. Be a United States citizen or legal resident alien of the United States;

3. Have received a high school diploma or passed a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board of Education; and

4. Have successfully completed all initial training requirements, including firearms endorsement if applicable, requested pursuant to the compulsory minimum training standards in Part IV (6VAC20-260-120 et seq.) of this chapter.

C. The following persons are not eligible for licensure as a bail enforcement agent and may not be employed by or serve as agents for a bail enforcement agent:

1. Persons who have been convicted of a felony within the Commonwealth, any other state, or the United States, who have not been pardoned or whose civil rights have not been restored.

2. Persons who have been convicted of any misdemeanor within the Commonwealth, any other state, or the United States within the preceding five years. This prohibition may be waived by the department, for good cause shown, so long as the conviction was not for one of the following or a substantially similar misdemeanor: carrying a concealed weapon, assault and battery, sexual battery, a drug offense, driving under the influence, discharging a firearm, a sex offense, or larceny.

3. Persons who have been convicted of any misdemeanor within the Commonwealth, any other state, or the United States, that is substantially similar to the following: brandishing a firearm or stalking. The department may not waive the prohibitions under this subdivision.

4. Persons currently the subject of a protective order within the Commonwealth or another state.

5. Employees of a local or regional jail.

6. Employees of a sheriff's office or a state or local police department.

7. Commonwealth's attorneys and any employees of their offices.

8. Employees of the Department of Corrections, Department of Criminal Justice Services, or a local pretrial or community-based probation services agency.

D. The exclusions in subsection C of this section shall not be construed to prohibit law enforcement from accompanying a bail enforcement agent when he engages in bail recovery.