What is the The New Role of a Private Investigator?
The role of the private investigator has changed.
In the past a Private Investigator was typically a sleuthy, camera toting smoother talker who was probably an ex-cop. The private investigator of the past was the gateway to restricted information only found in databases accessible by law enforcement. The ideas was that Private Investigators were called upon to discreetly get information that others simply couldn’t find or access.
We now operate in the information age where access to information is no longer a challenge. There are public facing databases like Instant CheckMate, BEEN VERIFED, Intelius and many others that serve up a ton of background type information to the general public for a small fee. So the idea that a PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR is needed to access information is no longer TRUE.
Because law enforcement has restricted and closely monitors who and why database searches are conducted cops are no longer able and willing to share information in their databases with private investigators.
The role of the private investigator has changed which means that the skills and techniques that a private investigator possesses must change.
Here is my hit list of the things that a private investigator must be good at to be a valuable resource to clients and secure new investigative work.
*You must be willing and skilled at reviewing prior reports of other investigators and process servers.
*You need to know how to search, review and interpret database reports from providers like TLO, Westlaw, Lexis Nexis, Clear and Accurint.
*Speed is key. You must be ready, willing and able to expedite investigations to meet your client’s deadlines. This can occur when your client procrastinates or when other investigators have failed or dropped the ball.
*Have a team of investigators ready for desktop research and field investigations to support your clients that needs work done on a rush basis.
*Have access to the best databases and resources. And get authority to obtain full social security numbers and other identifiers. This means having site inspections done and paying monthly fees to database providers.
A really important skill that a private investigator must have is the ability to develop creative and ethical strategies to obtain the evidence and information that a client needs to support their case.
Lastly, you must have a deep understanding of public records, court records and how records are indexed and stored so you how to look, where to look and you know how much time and money it will take to get the information the client needs. You will need to provide estimates or quotes in a timely manner to your clients to get new work.
The bottom line is that a private investigator operating in today’s fast paced environment must think like a consultant. Bring value to your client and to the case by applying not just what you know but also your processes and resources that can deliver results timely and accurately.
The world of investigations and businesses is constantly changing and innovating. Remember that if you aren’t growing you are dying.
If you are transitioning from law enforcement, looking to start your own PI business or just want to grow as an investigator you might be interested in the course that we are developing called Private Investigator Pro. If you join our email list and you will receive four free guides.