From Sherlock Holmes to Magnum, P.I, private investigators have long been a pop culture staple, and with good reason – few fictional characters this side of James Bond enjoy the mystery and intrigue these famous sleuths experience day in and day out. But what about real-life private investigators? Without the magnifying glasses and fingerprint powders of P.I. lore, what do today’s private investigators really do, anyway? We clear up a few questions – and misconceptions – about the life of a private eye below.
How do you Become a Private Investigator?
Private investigators come from a variety of backgrounds, but many have previous work experience in the legal, insurance, law enforcement and military industries. Private investigator licenses are issued by the state to qualified P.I. applicants who meet certain educational and professional requirements. In some locations, P.I.s must also obtain city-specific licenses before they can practice.
Who Uses Private Investigators?
Private investigators are hired by individuals and companies in the legal, insurance and corporate industries. In some cases, the results of a private investigation are even used in court cases. While private eyes can and do partner with local and federal law enforcers (in fact, some P.I.s are even former law officials), they are not police officers and don’t have the power to conduct police interrogations, make arrests and so on.
What do Private Investigators Do?
As the name would suggest, a P.I.’s primary job is to investigate. What they investigate depends on the job they were hired for. P.I.s commonly investigate individual people as part of routine background checks and employment verifications. Private investigators can also be used to conduct examinations into suspected infidelity, alimony or child support disputes or missing persons reports. Other P.I.s handle cases of identity theft, asset searches, judgment recoveries and financial or insurance fraud. Private investigators can even be used in retail stores to help prevent shoplifting or property destruction.
How do Private Investigators Conduct their Investigations?
While many private investigators work in the field through interviews, surveillance efforts or undercover investigations, much of their work is done online. Many P.I.s utilize online public records to access information on property assets and taxes, deeds, grantor/grantee indexes and involuntary liens. Access to these documents allows private investigators to conduct more accurate and efficient investigations.
And there you have it – an overview of what private investigators really do. It may not sound as glamorous as the adventures of Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe, but today’s P.I.s are combining classic investigative techniques with modern technology for the most precise investigations yet.
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