Often, one of the best resources for private investigators is public records. Â Florida has one of the loosest public record laws in the nation. Â In spite of this, many Florida private investigators fail to use these resources.
The public records law in Florida states that any document generated or received by a government agency, with regard to agency business, is public record. Â This includes documents, books, maps, audio tapes, video tapes, emails and computer-hosted data. Sometimes getting records can be a hassle. Â But, armed with the information in the Sunshine Manual, you can get the records you need.
If you want to learn more about the Florida’s public record laws, visit the Government-in-the-Sunshine manual. You can download it here: http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/MRAY-6Y8SEM/$file/Sunshine.pdf.  If you have trouble getting access to records that should be public, the manual should assist you with interpreting the laws to obtain those records lawfully.
Collecting Information on a Subject
When a client is in need of private investigation service, they will typically need information that is both accurate and relevant in a short amount of time. For example, a client may need to receive information regarding a suspected insurance fraud or background information on a job candidate, and as an investigator, you may not have an extensive amount of time to achieve your objective. The good news is that you will be able to obtain a large amount of information on an individual fairly easily. The bad news is the same--you will be able to obtain a large amount of information fairly easily. Specialized databases, court records, social networking sites, driving records, criminal records, employment history, civil litigation… rich sources of information that can both meet your needs and threaten to overwhelm you.
Your client, of course, will want only the relevant details, not everything. As a trained and experienced investigator, you will know which resources to turn to first. From these initial documents, you will be able to discern the important details from the irrelevant to produce a final report that will help your client make an important decision. Some examples include:
- Did a job applicant misrepresent his/her job or education history?
- Does a job applicant have a history of suing former employers?
- Is a subject under investigation living beyond his/her means?
- Is a person claiming disability posting pictures of himself/herself engaging in activities that should not be possible with the claimed disability?
Perhaps the most important information gathering resource available to a private investigator is knowledge of the law. All methods of information retrieval should be within legal bounds.
How Private Investigation Can Be Used in a Criminal Investigation
Private investigators are often used in tandem with criminal investigations to aid in their client’s defense. They are called in to review the case, interview potential or exculpatory witnesses, gather evidence, and examine for any potential loose ends. With the help of a private investigator, an individual can strengthen their defense in court, dismiss all charges against them, receive a reduced sentence, and successfully appeal or be acquitted of all charges.
If you are considering a career as a private investigator, here are some services you can provide in terms of criminal investigations:
- Gather evidence of wrongful accusation or conviction. The job here is just as it sounds; you will need to find evidence that can either prove your client’s innocence or show reasonable doubt to a jury. Although the former is preferred, sometimes finding that perfect piece of evidence is not always possible. This can include finding ulterior motives of people of interest in the case that may have been overlooked by law enforcement officers or finding a piece of evidence that just doesn’t add up in the case to provide doubt.
- Act as a liaison to law enforcement officers. In addition to aiding in a client’s defense, you can work with law enforcement to gather evidence that will lead to the conviction of the real perpetrator in a case. Law enforcement is no stranger to working with private investigators, especially because many private investigators have law enforcement experience.
- Provide services that are not limited by jurisdiction. Sometimes private investigators can continue to search for evidence in places or at times where law enforcement officers cannot.
Reasons Why Background Investigations Fail
Private investigators regularly perform background checks as part of research for their jobs. Â Some of the persons of interest that private investigators conduct investigative background checks on include employees and insurance claimants. Â However, the information that private investigators find during a routine background check might not be as thorough as they need. A recent article published by the Wall Street Journal explored the red flags that are missed in background checks in high-profile cases. It explores several high security background clearances that should raise apparent red flags during an investigation, but often go unnoticed.
Here are a few reasons why background investigations often fail:
- Lack of thorough investigation. Private investigators will often rely on the information sites that are easily accessed in order to gather their research. While this is a great starting point, it is important to examine and exhaust as many different resources to gain as much information as possible.
- Technology is not a fail-safe. To get a thorough understanding of their target, private investigators must step outside the easily accessable information found on Google. For example, court records cannot always be as easily accessed online as they are by making a trip to the courthouse in question.
- You get what you pay for. If you stay on a low budget for gathering information, you can expect to get an equal quality in your findings.
- Skill & analysis. Once information has been gathered, it is important for a private investigator to efficiently analyze the data to understand its value. This is something that comes with experience and becomes clearer to a private investigator the more background investigations they have under their belt.
Valuable Documents To Review In a Background Check
When conducting any type of investigation, private investigators follow certain procedures to learn about the individual who are being investigated. Investigators have sources they frequently use, for example, but it never hurts to broaden the scope of sources to find new information while doing a background investigation. There are several important documents that can be of value while conducting a background investigation.
Bankruptcy Proceedings
Whether filing voluntarily or not, a great deal of paperwork must be submitted to file for bankruptcy. This paperwork typically details assets, income, pension plan, liabilities and more (at the time of the proceedings). It can also show if the individual complied with their bankruptcy payment plan.
Interviews
A discussion with a key source like a current or former co-worker or neighbor can often reveal information that is unattainable through records or files. Â This type of investigations may be a bit more difficult to track down, but can be worth the time to retrieve information.
Divorce Filings
Like bankruptcy, divorce papers hold a great deal of information including assets, the length of the marriage, income and more. They also have information regarding any violence or abuse that occurred and if anyone was on any medications.
Not all of these documents may be available in every state, which is why it’s especially important for PIs to understand what can be legally obtained during the course of an investigation. The National Investigative Training Academy, Inc. (NITA) is an online provider of state-approved and accredited private investigator training classes, including several on state laws and statutes. Call 1-800-730-NITA (6482) for more information.
Our enrollment counselors are here to answer any questions you might have about our state- and board-approved status, pre-licensing training, or professional development programs.
