Questions & Answers

Private Investigators Career Q.. Would I make a good private  investigator? Basically the field of private investigation is so vast and diverse, from the very high tech like computer fraud, to highly oriented people skills, like interviewing witnesses, that there is a need for virtually all types of skills and people. Probably the most necessary attribute is the deepest desire to get at the truth. An almost dog like tenacity, hence, the symbol of the hound dog with the magnifying glass used so often in private investigation. So, if you like to follow every thread, dig out every clue and solve puzzles then you would be a good investigator. The one other thing that was common among all of our investigators was the deep desire to help people and fulfill their clients needs. These two things together made for not only a good investigate but a highly successful investigator. Q. What does the job of a professional investigators involve? Professional Investigators employ techniques such as public record searches for background checks and pre-employment screening. Investigators interview people to gain information, gather evidence and verify facts about individuals, events or companies. They may provide assistance in civil liability and personal injury cases, insurance claims and fraud, child custody cases, premarital screening and martial infidelity. Some Private Investigative firms offer executive and celebrity protection and some serve court papers. Background & Training Many people are of the opinion that most PI's are former police officers or government law enforcement agents. The fact is, the majority of Professional Investigators have little or no training or experience in those fields.  Almost anyone, man or woman, no matter his or her age, background or experience (with the exception of convicted felons, of course), can become a Professional Investigator. Q. What training will I need to become a private investigator? While there are no academic requirements for this field, a two-year associate’s program or a four-year bachelor's program in a criminal justice-related area is helpful to an aspiring  Private Investigator. Most Private Investigation firms offer a variety of services requiring their  Investigators to have a broad base of knowledge in several areas.  Many  Private Investigator schools offer classes in specialized subjects such as insurance and criminal investigations. These subjects are also offered by community collages. Seminars designed to enhance investigative skills and specialties are conducted by state and national private investigative associations. Enlightened  Investigators expand their knowledge base with courses and seminars throughout their career. The best training is on-the-job-training under an experienced investigator. The trick is convincing the Private Investigative firm that you know enough to make it worth their while to hire you. Get started with a good well-rounded course that addresses the most common types of investigations, such as "Secrets of Top Private Eyes." More information available from the Department of Labor Q Are internships required for Private Investigators? Many states require Professional Investigators to serve an apprenticeship or internship with an established, licensed PI or with an investigative firm. Several Professional Investigator schools exist that offer entry-level schooling and training that may or may not enhance on-the-job training and the time-given acquisition of basic skills. Q. What should I do to get started on a career as a Private Investigator?   "Someone who wants to get started in this field, yes, go for it!  It's not a shadowing profession. It's not Sam Spade, it's a good, energetic, interesting and productive way of contributing and making a living. You're doing the first thing you should do, right now - which is research." - Linnea Sinclair, Private Investigator and Instructor

"A lot of people think you need to have some kind of law enforcement background to be a Private Investigator. Not true at all.  Our business is comprised of people who are streetwise and able to go out and get the information. You've got to be a go-getter. Nothing to do with police work, or police techniques. Being a PI is gaining information and knowledge. We go to a lot of seminars and read a lot of articles.

But, when it comes to 'formal' schooling, there's no formal.  I think even if you went to the John Jay School of Criminal Justice they could not get you ready for doing investigations." - Peter Crummy, Private Investigator and Instructor

Q. What if I have no special training?

"Having a background as a truck driver can be very sensible experience for the investigative business.  Say you're doing an undercover job for a trucking firm.  The man's been a trucker: that could be very essential.  A man comes to me and he says, 'I've worked 20 different jobs in my life.'  I ask him to tell me about each and every job he's ever worked - what he did for a living. That man is going to be vital to me if I need to put him on the job. I might need someone to pose as a real estate agent. We employ pretexts all day long in the investigative business." - Bob Brown Private Investigator and Instructor

Women Investigators

	"In the early 70's there were very few female private investigators. I know of only one. I did not hire women then because I just did not think they would make good investigators. It was 1976 before I hired the first woman investigator, a woman who really proved herself and proved to me that women make excellent investigators. She did a superb job for me and was with me several years."
Since that time, I've hired many women. In each instance, they have been superior to male investigators. They can acquire data that men cannot get. They are less threatening. more and more women have come into Private investigation business, not only as investigators, but as owners of agencies." - Nick and Pat Beltrante, PI's, Instructors, Beltrante & Associates Private Investigations

"Women can do a lot more. We're not intimidating to people. I would open my door to a women as opposed to a man. People will spill their guts to a women when they won't give a man the time of day. We're sweet and nice and we're not out to hurt anyone. - Pat Beltrante PI - Beltrante & Associates

Q.  Are there advantages for women investigators?

"Women are naturally inquisitive. By nature we're more detail oriented. Woman are generally more compassionate. Women look at a case - especially if it involves child custody or marital situations - from a different angle then a man. A woman is also a natural for undercover work. People tell me all the time - and I take it as a compliment - 'You don't look like a Private Investigator.'  I like that." - Liz Crummey, Private Investigator - Crummey Investigations, Inc.

Private Investigator Licensing

"Every state is different. Go to your local law library and obtain a copy of the statute that regulates agencies. Call the Division of Licensing in your state capital and ask them what chapter pertains to investigative agencies." - Mike Askew, Private Investigator and Instructor

"I teach a sixty-hour course and about twenty hours of that course involves the study of rules and regulations for PI's in Virginia. We have rules and regulations governing PI's because the state wants to make sure if a person goes out and practices the investigative profession, he or she is fully aware of responsibilities. The remaining forty hours of the course are devoted to such things as surveillance. The students actually go out on field exercises and do surveillance. They do photography work and report writing. Several hours are dedicated to appearing in court." -  Nick Beltrante, Private Investigator and Instructor

Specializing as a Private Investigator

	"Some of the most recent trends are in on-line searching, pre-marital investigations, worker's compensation, and claims for insurance companies. Locating missing persons, of course, has always been a mainstay in the private investigative profession.
Financial investigations is a field that needs a large number of investigators. brokerage firms, banks, lawyers - even private individuals - require this service. It could bring big dollars in for the right investigator."- Nick Beltrante, Private Investigator, Washington DC

"Product liability is one high-paying investigative specialty. In many instances, the request is for someone to find a defect in a vehicle or conveyance - be it a car, motorcycle, or bicycle. We've handled cases from helmets to mechanical chairs." - Mike Askew , PI and Instructor

"Computer fraud. There has been a dramatic increase in this type of investigation, and someone capable of handling it would certainly be in a good position to earn many dollars. It's a specialty area that requires a good knowledge of computers."  - Roger Gibson, PI and Instructor

"What premarital work can be for anyone is a basic background investigation. Is this person truly divorced or widowed, as they say they are? That's probate records, that's civil court records: divorces. Is this person from where they say they're from? Have they spent their life there? Call up county records. Do they own property there? It's public records. Is this person really in this business? Is he or she really a CPA?" - Linnea Sinclair, Private Investigator - Instructor

• Detection of listening devices and cameras (bug sweeping)
• Undercover and covert operations
• Corporate espionage and competitive intelligence
• Background: conduct, habits, credibility, character & reputation
• Relationship, marital, and custody investigations
• Skip tracing
• Locating missing heirs and witnesses
• Conducting injury or wrongful death investigations
• Investigating accidents, fires, damage to property
• Locating assets, stolen property
• Providing patrol, guard, and bodyguard services
• Gathering evidence for civil and criminal proceedings
• Serving legal papers
• Investigating employee theft, loss prevention, narcotic & alcohol abuse

The Private Investigator's Arena

Retail Investigations

Attorneys

Insurance Investigations

Computer Crime

Industrial Espionage Investigations

Professional Investigators Associations