If you’ve ever thought of hiring a private investigator (PI) to help with a personal or professional matter, you’re not alone. More and more people are relying on PIs to uncover evidence in civil and criminal cases, provide background information on prospective employees or romantic partners, and even offer investigative services for enterprises.
But before you rush out and hire your own PI, it’s important to understand the roles these investigators can play in modern investigations as well as the laws they must follow while providing their service.
In this post, we break down the role that private investigators play so that those considering such services can make an informed decision about whether one is right for them.
What is a Private Investigator (PI)?
A Private Investigator (PI) is a professional who specializes in gathering information, usually for legal or private investigations. They often have backgrounds as law enforcers before transitioning into this role and may have experience with gathering evidence, conducting surveillance, using informants and interviews, deciphering financial records, and providing expert testimony in court.
Private Investigators must also be up-to-date with the laws and regulations relevant to their profession. For these reasons, PIs are well known for their discretion and reliability when it comes to handling sensitive information. In addition, many are familiar with advanced data mining techniques used to uncover digital evidence that can help lead to an investigation’s successful resolution.
Why Do People Hire Them for Investigations
Private investigators (PIs) can provide a variety of services to meet their client’s needs. They often provide surveillance services to document individuals’ movements or activities for the purpose of uncovering evidence for legal proceedings and insurance claims. PIs are also proficient in searching online, locating individuals, obtaining background information from public records, as well as collecting evidence from crime scenes. Additionally, PIs can offer expert witness testimony due to their specialized knowledge and experience in the field.
People hire a private investigator for investigations for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, pre-matrimonial investigation and infidelity checks to ensure whether one’s partner is being faithful, identifying the originator of an unsolicited email or package sent to their home address, assisting with identity theft cases, investigating wrongful termination cases and employee misconduct complaints, providing cyber security solutions concerning unauthorized access of confidential company information, etc.
What Kind of Equipment and Resources Do They Use
Private investigators rely on many different tools and strategies to gather information and evidence. They may use covert listening devices, go undercover when necessary, or conduct surveillance to learn more about a situation. To track people who are evading detection they may employ global positioning systems (GPS) or specialized software.
Resources such as public databases, databases of registered documents, internet search engines, and court records may also be accessed to investigate a case. At the same time, proactivity during the investigation is key; an experienced private investigator knows how to ask the right questions in order to map out the facts of a situation.
By piecing together all available resources including witness interviews and expert testimony, a PI can put together a comprehensive picture of the truth.
How to Find an Experienced and Qualified Private Investigator
Finding an experienced and qualified private investigator to handle your investigative needs can be daunting, especially if it is your first time seeking out these services. Some good places to start are by requesting referrals from people you know and trust. If they don’t have anyone personally in mind, seek out online reviews from past customers or websites that rate service providers.
Pay attention to years of experience and areas of expertise. Private investigators are also regulated by the state so be sure to research the qualifications for your locality before making a commitment. Making sure you find someone with the necessary qualifications, experience, and reliability is essential for receiving quality and successful results for your case.
