Private Investigators are professionals who “work to gather information and evidence pertaining to a case or event”
The Skill
The skills and expertise of private investigators are of value in a large number of areas, including:
- Computer forensics services
- Personal protection services
- Undercover investigations
- Supplier, vendor and employee screening programs
- Crisis intervention services
- Retail loss and prevention
- Criminal investigation services
- Polygraph services
- Missing persons services
- Pre-employment screenings
- Personal investigations
Their Talents
Their talents lie in being able to gather and analyze information. This may include:
- Performing undercover investigations
- Performing surveillance activities
- Documenting and reporting the results of investigations
- Interviewing people
- Researching
Assistance to Lawyers
Private investigators may help civil lawyers or criminal defense lawyers with other aspects of the case. For example, they may conduct an independent investigation of the evidence. For example, they may gather evidence about an automotive accident, such as photographs, parts of the vehicle, electronically-stored information and interview witnesses in order to reach an independent conclusion regarding the evidence. The attorney then determines how to handle this evidence. Private investigators are also retained in a number of other cases. For example, they may be asked to assist in business fraud cases by posing as a party interested in an illegal or unethical practice. They may be retained by insurance companies when the injured victim claims to have suffered a disability but his or her social media pages show the individual is taking vacations or engaging in risky behaviors.
