Private investigators must document their investigations and create reports, that may in turn be submitted in court. The documentation effort starts with an incident report that captures the preliminary information required to begin an investigation. Remember the who, what, when, where and why. Who’s the victim, possible suspect, where did it occur and when. Many reports use a concept as earliest possible and when discovered. What happened and why; why is usually economic for the money, or emotional revenge, etc.
Background Check Reports
Background reports require a certain information to initiate a background check, provide authorization and to identify the individual to avoid confusion with others with similar or same names. A due diligence report would have to have sufficient information to direct the investigator in the proper direction and to describe what is required and expected. The incident report could be used for missing persons and cover both civil and criminal aspects.
Victim & Witness Interview Written Statements
During the investigation numerous reports, some official and some administratively are generated. Voluntary statements are written statements voluntarily submitted by the victim, a person of interest or casual witnesses. Interviews are usually recorded and are conducted for information discovery. Interrogations are to obtain prosecutable admissions for court or to further the investigation.
Surveillance & Evidentiary Reports
Surveillance logs document the activities of surveillance teams, on a shift by shift basis. Investigative logs document the activities of the investigator as to the activities related to the case. Evidentiary reports document evidence gathered and are combined with any lab results. Photographic or video is also documented possibly with a running commentary or picture log. Scene diagrams need to be created to document many of the points of evidentiary concern and act as map even with photos. Photos are localized and fragmentary to the overall scene and diagram aids clarity.
Private Investigator Logs & Notes
Other items are like ‘memo to file’ that record facts and hearsay for follow-up. These are formalized notes, persons of interest, leads. These should be summarized weekly to ensure that follow-up has been made. Investigator logs and notes can be discoverable and are subject to court inspection, though they may not constitute part of the actual official submission. It is therefore advisable to have a separated notebook for each investigation, as your personal notebook containing any information of the investigation under consideration can be seized by the court. You don’t want other investigations being compromised because of inclusion in an investigation that becomes part of the court record.
Financial Expenditure Report
On the business side financial expenditures must be documented for billing purposes, something that most police investigators have no need to concern themselves. Extensive travel requires documentation, and if driven mileage sheets, and fuel consumption are documented. Some agencies charge so much per mile of set transportation charges. Air travel if supported by contract would need to be included. Housing and dinning charges are to a degree offset as well. Public agencies generally assign a peridium from a schedule for daily expenses.
Confidential Informant Reports
Confidential informants are the mainstay of any investigation, public or private. Managing informants is a process, subject to possible court review. These payments must be documented, for tax or billing purposes.
Without documentation there is no case. Investigations are ‘paper’ intensive, and paper plays a large part in investigative work, many courts require hard copies not electronic submissions.
Private Investigator & Security Services in Greater Miami, Sunny Isles, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Weston, Plantation City & Miami Gardens Florida
Many investigations involving due diligence, background checks and missing persons cases may not involve the courts, but the results must be submitted to the client in a format the is readily understandable and free of jargon. The client must be satisfied he got a work product commensurate with his expenses. Private investigation referrals are a word of mouth process and a quality work product, being your report is your advertising as well as a product. Advanced Private Investigator & Security of Miami FL offers expert private investigation and security services. Contact us today!
