A private investigator, investigation agent or private detective, is someone who is able to hire individuals, teams or NGOs to undertake investigative duties. Private investigators specialize in uncovering matters that are under the counter of public or private sector authority. They use a wide range of methods to investigate matters. They employ a number of confidential means, including computer-aided surveillance, personal interviews, surveillance of suspicious activity and the inspection of documents. They have gone through extensive private investigation training to get them this far.
Specialization
There are many private investigators who specialize in investigating serious crimes such as murder, theft, fraud, DUI, sex crimes, corporate crimes and drug offenses. Many private investigators specialize in intellectual property crimes such as piracy. This includes illegally accessing intellectual property belonging to another company. These investigators are employed by the police, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Immigration and Customs enforcement agencies, Drug Enforcement Association of United States Customs and Border Protection agency among many other government agencies. The FBI is an example of a government agency that frequently uses private investigators.
Missing Persons
Private investigators also help investigate matters pertaining to missing persons, such as reported missing person cases, and unidentified bodies of bodies that have been unidentified following a death. They help establish the identity and location of missing people, recover personal effects belonging to missing persons, trace the relatives of missing persons, notify the next of kin of missing persons and inform law enforcement agencies on behalf of missing persons. Private investigators also help victims of criminal activity, especially organized crime. In instances where victims refuse to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and private investigators cannot legally access private information on the victim, they may present a petition to the circuit court requesting an exception to the rule of compulsory extreme care.
Private or Public
Private investigators are employed by any type of private or public sector organisation, including hospitals, defence facilities, universities, corporations, non-profit organisations, insurance companies, government agencies and public authorities. They have gone through many private investigator courses in Austin Texas. They perform investigative, investigation and background checks related to current projects. They use different forms of surveillance and access personal devices of suspects, including computers and mobile phones. For some private investigators, only computer and mobile phone spying is allowed, while others agree to do all investigating and background checking on site and in the office. Some investigators specialise in conducting surveillance operations abroad.
Private investigators can work independently or in conjunction with other professionals. The two most common methods employed by investigators are undercover surveillance and interviewing subjects in person. Undercover surveillance involves gathering information and observations without the knowledge of the subject. Interviewing subjects in person enables private investigators to collect information on a subject’s credibility, reliability, and motives for illicit activity. While performing investigations using undercover techniques, investigators cannot use their skills and abilities to gather information on subjects that they know nothing about.
Advantages
Private investigators offer many advantages to businesses, public sector organizations and private individuals. They can conduct discreet investigations that keep confidential records and can document any type of official transaction. Private investigators can also help victims of any type of serious crime or legal case bring proceedings before the courts. It is essential to hire only reputable private investigators to avoid complicating any official proceedings or putting your business or organization at risk of damages. With an increasing number of crimes, hiring private investigators can help you protect your business, assets and customers against fraud and other criminal activity.
