Private Investigator Basics: Surveillance

Surveillance Fundamentals

Surveillance involves the systematic observation of individuals, locations, or objects to record and ascertain contacts, activities, and movements. Private investigators employ surveillance for various purposes, including crime prevention, evidence collection for criminal and civil cases, documentation of an individual's location or actions, acquisition of information to support interviews, intelligence gathering for future operations, and securing details for use in legal proceedings.

Types of Investigations Requiring Surveillance

Surveillance plays a crucial role in a range of investigations, including missing person cases, worker’s compensation claims, child custody investigations, infidelity investigations (cheating spouse), vandalism incidents, and recurrent theft situations.

Types of Surveillance

Private investigators must select the most appropriate type of surveillance based on the specifics of each case and the investigation’s objectives. The nature of the case will determine whether surveillance should be mechanical or human, overt or covert, and stationary or mobile.

Mechanical Surveillance Versus Human Surveillance

Mechanical surveillance involves using technological devices, such as cameras or recording equipment, to monitor targets. This method offers several benefits: equipment doesn’t tire, get hungry, or lose focus, and multiple locations can be monitored simultaneously. For example, in theft cases at a construction site, private investigators may install cameras and later review the recordings for evidence.

Overt Surveillance Versus Covert Surveillance

Overt surveillance refers to monitoring activities that are plainly visible, such as security personnel patrolling shopping centers or the use of security cameras in casinos. This form of surveillance is intentionally made apparent to discourage theft or fraudulent behavior.

Mobile Surveillance Versus Stationary Surveillance

Mobile surveillance involves following moving targets, for instance, tailing someone who leaves a location in their car. In contrast, stationary surveillance means monitoring a fixed location or position.

Preparation for Surveillance

Understand the Client’s Needs

It is essential for private investigators to clarify what the client aims to achieve with surveillance. The client’s objectives will determine the types of surveillance, the project’s scope, and the necessary equipment. Investigators must educate clients and manage their expectations, as investigations are often more complex and costly than anticipated.

Know The Subject

Before conducting surveillance, private investigators should complete thorough background research on the subject. This includes obtaining the individual’s name, address, phone number, full physical description, photograph, and information about relatives nearby. Additional useful details include the subject’s routines, habits, hobbies, schedules, and associates.

Know The Area

Investigators should have a map of the surveillance area and, if possible, a photograph of the building or location to be watched. It’s helpful to visit the site at different times of day and night, especially if the surveillance will occur during less busy hours.

Know Your Equipment

The equipment used depends on the surveillance’s nature. Investigators should be thoroughly familiar with their devices and practice with them ahead of time. For example, if cameras or video cameras are required, it’s wise to have backups and extra batteries, as there’s rarely a second chance to capture key activities.

Know Yourself

Investigators should prepare mentally and physically by getting enough sleep, exercising, and having a clear plan. They must also be ready to handle unexpected encounters, such as being approached by strangers or law enforcement. Having a plausible cover story is essential to successful surveillance.

Key Qualities for Surveillance Investigators

Surveillance requires significant dedication and resilience. Successful investigators are outgoing, communicate well, act decisively, remember details, blend into their environment, and pay close attention to detail. Other important traits include honesty, patience, resourcefulness, flexibility, and the ability to concentrate for long hours, often under challenging conditions such as sitting in a vehicle for extended periods in extreme weather.

Ethics and Laws Relevant to Surveillance

Investigators must know and comply with all laws affecting their work in their respective states, particularly those involving trespassing and audio recording. Laws regarding audio recording vary by state, and some states prohibit covert audio recording. Failure to comply can result in serious legal consequences, including imprisonment.

Conclusion

Surveillance is not necessary in every investigation, but it is invaluable when visual confirmation of a target’s actions or location is needed for resolution. Whether the goal is to catch a thief, locate a missing person, or confirm the validity of a worker’s compensation claim, surveillance provides critical evidence and can be essential to a successful investigation.

Brian Blackwell Investigator | Harrisburg, PA
https://www.brianblackwell.biz

Private Investigator Basics: Interviewing

Introduction to Interviewing

Private investigators conduct interviews with a variety of individuals, including plaintiffs, defendants, witnesses, victims, suspects, subjects of background investigations, and experts. Interviewing is a fundamental skill in the investigative process, serving as a means of gathering facts that can become testimonial evidence in legal proceedings.

What Is Interviewing?

Interviewing involves collecting factual information from people. The details obtained during interviews may be used as testimonial evidence, which can play a critical role in building or defending a case.

Investigations That Require Interviews

• Theft
• Missing persons
• Background investigations
• Situations requiring expert assistance

Why Conduct Interviews?

Interviews are essential for reconstructing crimes or events, gathering evidence, identifying leads, clarifying facts, and determining what truly happened. They help investigators piece together the sequence of events and develop a more complete understanding of the case.

Preparing for an Interview

Preparation is crucial to a successful interview. Investigators should create a prioritized list of witnesses, placing major witnesses at the top. Before conducting an interview, the investigator must be familiar with any statements the witness has given to authorities and understand the facts of the case.

Researching the Interview Subject

Before the interview, investigators should perform thorough records research and a background check on the subject. Knowing basic information—such as the subject’s relationship to participants in the event, whether they wear glasses, and if they have a criminal record—can help the investigator approach the interview more effectively.

Anticipating the Subject’s Needs

Each interview subject may have unique needs depending on the case. In criminal defense investigations, witnesses may fear retaliation or have concerns about cooperating with the defense. Friends or relatives of crime victims may be reluctant to speak. Investigators must be prepared to address these challenges, especially when talking to victims who may be angry or distressed, and work to help them share their account of events.

Documenting the Interview

It is important to take notes during or immediately after each interview. Notes can be handwritten, recorded on audio devices, or captured on video if the subject consents. Building rapport and ensuring the subject feels comfortable are key to obtaining permission for recording. If a subject provides an especially helpful or exculpatory statement, investigators should request to record it for accuracy.

Essential Interviewing Skills for Investigators

Setting Up the Interview

Whenever possible, investigators should schedule interviews in advance with cooperative witnesses. If advance scheduling is not feasible, unscheduled visits may be necessary to reach potential interview subjects.

Engaging in Active Listening

Investigators should follow the 80/20 rule: the interview subject should speak 80% of the time, while the interviewer speaks 20%. Active listening encourages information flow and shows the subject that their statements are being heard. Investigators should paraphrase or summarize what the subject has said to confirm understanding and encourage further communication.

Building Rapport

Establishing rapport is crucial for gaining the trust of interview subjects and encouraging them to open up. Investigators can build rapport through small talk and by finding common ground. An open communication channel is essential for obtaining information and allowing for possible follow-up interviews.

Recognizing Truth Versus Deception

Investigators should start with closed questions, then gradually transition to open-ended questions that require thoughtful responses. Initial questions should cover basic background information that the investigator already knows, allowing observation of the subject’s behavior when answering truthfully. Later, changes in vocal tone, speech patterns, and facial expressions may indicate shifts from truthful responses to possible deception.

Interpreting Non-Verbal Communication

Experience helps private investigators focus on non-verbal cues. Generally, innocent people can be reassured, while guilty individuals may exhibit nervous behaviors—such as clenched fists, a reddening face, bulging veins, or loss of eye contact. These cues can help distinguish between truth and deception during interviews.

Finalizing and Following Up on Interviews

After an Interview: Finalizing Notes

Investigators must finalize their notes or transcribe recordings to create a permanent record of the interview. Reports should include the date and time, duration, location, and attendees, as well as a summary of information obtained. Recorded interviews should be documented verbatim, and all notes retained until the matter is resolved.

Follow-Up Interviews

If initial interviews do not yield enough information, investigators may need to conduct follow-up interviews. Building rapport over time can help witnesses become more forthcoming. Investigators should document narratives, have subjects review and sign off on them, and revisit subjects if inconsistencies arise or if additional documentary evidence is required.

New Leads

Interview subjects may provide leads to additional potential witnesses not previously identified. Investigators should pursue these leads by conducting background research, contacting new subjects, and scheduling interviews, following the same procedures as for the initial interviews.

Conclusion

Interviewing is essential in investigations because it provides verbal confirmation of events. In cases involving a single occurrence, interview subjects may be the only witnesses to what happened. Their statements, known as testimonial evidence, are invaluable in court, especially when supported by documentary evidence gathered through research.

Brian Blackwell Investigations | Harrisburg, PA
https://www.brianblackwell.biz

Private Investigator Basics: Records Research

Records Research: An Essential Competency

Private investigation relies on three core competencies: records research, interviews, and surveillance. While not every investigation will require interviews or surveillance, all will involve some form of records research. In fact, certain investigations may consist solely of research. Records research involves locating both public and private records, serving as a crucial tool for gathering information that can support or refute a particular viewpoint.

Records Research Basics Process

Every investigative assignment brings its own unique aspects to the research process. The databases and repositories an investigator consults will differ based on the specific nature of the investigation. Therefore, it is important for investigators to continuously expand their knowledge of various database resources to remain effective.

Four Major Steps of Records Research

Step 1: Determine the Client's Needs

The foundation of any research assignment is to understand the client's needs. The first question to address is: What is being sought? Clarifying this helps identify the client's objectives and the scope of the work. Responsible private investigators will also determine how the client intends to use the information before proceeding. It is essential to avoid conducting research that could be misused or cause harm to others.

Step 2: Develop an Investigative Plan

Once the client's needs are clearly defined, the next step is to develop an investigative plan. This plan outlines the specific investigative tasks and the documents that need to be located. Additionally, it should include an operating budget and cost estimate to ensure accountability and efficiency throughout the investigation. With a comprehensive plan in place, investigators can present a clear proposal to the client and set expectations for the final outcome.

Step 3: Internet Research

Internet research often serves as the starting point for records research. The accessibility of online resources allows investigators to quickly narrow their search, making the process more effective and efficient. Rather than becoming overwhelmed by the vast amount of information available, investigators should focus their efforts to target only the most relevant sources.

Step 4: Obtaining Original Records

Original records are the primary documents containing the required information, such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, or business records. While these originals are generally not available online, initial internet research can reveal where to obtain them. Locating and securing original records is a critical component of comprehensive records research.

Public versus Private Records

The distinction between public records and private records is important in the investigative process. Public records, which vary by state, may include addresses, birth and marriage records, criminal records, and certain records of divorce proceedings. Private records, such as medical, tax, credit, employment, and educational information, are typically restricted. Accessing these private records requires explicit authorization—usually in the form of a signed waiver from the individual concerned.

Conclusion

Each of the three core competencies—records research, interviews, and surveillance—plays a vital role in the investigative process. Records research, in particular, enables investigators to gather more information and form a clearer understanding of the individuals or situations they are examining. When records research is combined with interviewing and surveillance skills, investigators are able to enhance their effectiveness and professionalism in the field.

Brian Blackwell Investigations
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
https://www.brianblackwell.biz