Private detectives have many myths surrounding them, mostly from movies and books of fiction. Knowing more (truth) about what these professionals do and how they do it can be very helpful for anyone who may need their services. Here are some facts about private eyes.
To begin, private detectives paid to find and gather facts. They are hired by private citizens and companies that need this service. They do not work for the police or for the government. They do not have the power to arrest (except in some very special cases), and they do not prosecute criminals.
In the US, the first private detective agency was founded by Allan Pinkerton and it was known as the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. That was 150 years ago and since then a lot has changed in the world of the private detective.
In today’s world, about 25 percent of private detectives are self-employed, another 25 percent work for various private detective companies or security services. The last half (or so) work for credit collection companies, financial institutions, and other types of businesses that need to collect information or find persons.
Not all private detectives do the same types of work; many specialize in specific fields and often take advanced training courses in these fields. For instance, those who have a college background in finance may work in financial investigations; those with a law enforcement background may specialize in criminal cases such as fraud, employee theft, etc. Many private detectives work in serving legal papers to people, especially to those who may not want to be served. And, lastly, the main job of most detectives is to investigate cases.
For many private detectives their caseload will include skip tracing, background investigations, searching for missing persons, various types of surveillance, and serving legal papers. Serving legal papers is part of the due process that is guaranteed in the Constitution.
To perform an investigation, the investigator begins with discussing the case with the client, determining what is the goal of the investigation. A tentative plan and budget is then formulated and approved. As evidence is found or collected, it is done so that it can be introduced to court later (if needed). Evidence is analyzed and the client is informed of any findings.
Private investigators can turn to a variety of sources for information. This would also include the use of surveillance in which the detective follows the target, documents what is found and who is met. Following the target person without being noticed or losing them is not as easy as it sounds. Sophisticated surveillance tools may be used, or it may be as simple as following on foot or in a vehicle. Findings are often recorded on video or with a camera.
Private detectives may also interview witnesses and suspects in order to get information. It should be noted that, generally, people do not have to talk with a private detective if they do not want to.
Another source for information are public records. A large amount of information can be found through public records, but knowing exactly where to look, what to ask for, and how to get it are all hallmarks of an experienced detective. Online databases are also used these days which can do a variety of different types of searches. Many of these online tools are not accessible to the general public and most charge a fee for their services.
Lastly, the private detective presents the findings to the client and it is up to the client to make the next step.
