The Private Eye

"The reason there are so many imbeciles among imprisoned criminals is
that an imbecile is so foolish even a detective can detect him."

Austin O'Malley
 

The Job

Private detectives gather information for businesses and individuals. They assist Attorney, businesses, and the public with a variety of legal, financial and personal problems.

Most private detectives are specially trained to perform physical surveillance, often for extended periods of time. They also perform computer database searches that allow them to quickly obtain considerable amounts of information.

Due to the increase in “Homeland Security” issues many private detectives provide a myriad of protection details both on a National and International level. They also provide protective services to celebrities, CEO’s and dignitaries.

Private detectives question suspects, catch criminals in the act of committing crimes and assist law enforcement with the filing of criminal complaints. As a result private detectives spend a considerable amount of time testifying in court.

Skills

Private detectives must not be afraid of confrontation, should communicate well both orally and in writing, and should be able to make quick, sound judgment decisions.

Good interviewing and interrogation skills are important and are usually acquired in earlier careers in law enforcement, security or other related fields.

Private detectives must be able to present the facts in a manner, which a jury will believe.

Private detectives must also be possess the following skills;

Analyze evidence
Apply active listening techniques
Apply and interpret written instructions
Apply expert observation in criminal and civil cases
Apply interpersonal communication techniques
Apply pursuit tactics
Communicate details concisely and consistently
Conduct investigations and research
Gather physical evidence
Guard, patrol or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence or infractions/violations or rules/laws
Install cameras for process control or surveillance
Keep accurate records and maintain files
Locate persons – skip tracing
Operate and monitor surveillance equipment
Operate two-way radios
Prepare detailed reports
Research work related to topics using library resources and the Internet
Use and maintain firearms (Not always applicable)
Be proficient with the use of a PC
Utilize surveillance techniques
Verify investigative information
Work as a team member

Education

No formal education is required for most private investigator positions. However, most investigative employers want to see a formal education in a related study. Attending a private detective training school is always beneficial to obtaining a job. However, investigators wanting to enter the field should avoid “on-line” courses and seek out a reputable training school that is properly licensed.

Specialized training in subjects such as criminal justice; forensic science, law enforcement, executive protection and security administration fields are useful.

The majority of the State and the District of Colombia require private detectives to be licensed by the state or local authorities.

Job Outlook

Rigid competition is expected, because private detective careers attract so many qualified people, including relatively young retirees from law enforcement and military careers.

Opportunities will be best for entry-level positions within detective agencies or part time positions. Those seeking private detective employment have the best opportunity with large chains and discount stores.

Employment of private detectives is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012. In addition to growth, replacement of those who retire or leave the occupation for other reasons should create many job openings. Increased demand. Increased demand for private detectives will result from fear of crime, law enforcement budget cuts, increased litigation and the need to protect information and property of all kinds. Growing financial activity worldwide will increase the demand for investigators to control internal and external financial losses, and to monitor competitors and prevent industrial spying. Additionally, due to the increase in domestic and international terrorism and “Homeland Security” issues the government is authorizing millions of dollars in protection money for the private sector.

Earnings

Median annual earnings of salaried private detectives and investigators were $29,300.00 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $21,980.00 and $41,710.00 The lowest 10 percent earned less than $17,290.00 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $57,370.00. In 2002, median annual earnings were $29,030.00 in investigation and security services, and $22,250.00 in department stores.

Earnings of private detectives vary greatly depending on their employer, specialty and the geographic region in which they work. According to a study by Abbott, Langer & Associates, security/loss prevention directors and vice presidents had a median income of $77,500.00 per year in 2002; investigators, $39,800.00; and store detectives $25,000.00. In addition to typical benefits, most corporate investigators received profit sharing plans.

Related Careers

Police Officer
Bill Collector
Insurance claims examiner
Bodyguard
Sheriff deputy
Security officer
Corrections deputy
Inspector
Loss prevention agent
Repossession Agent
Database professional
Gaming surveillance officers
Transit and railroad police
Animal control officers
Fish and game wardens
Ski/Beach patrol officers and other recreational protective service workers

Significant points

Work hours within the field of private investigations are often irregular and the work can be dangerous.

About a third of all private detectives were self-employed

Applicants typically have related experience in areas such as law enforcement, military, insurance related fields or government investigative or intelligence positions.

Working conditions

Private detectives often work irregular hours because of the need to conduct surveillance and contact people who are not available during normal working hours. Early morning, evenings, weekends and holiday work is very common within the field.

Many private detectives spend time away from their offices conducting interviews or doing surveillance. However, many work out of their offices most of the day conducting computer searches and making phone calls. Those who have their own detective agencies and employ other investigators may work primarily in an office and have normal business hours.

When working on a case away from the office, the environment might range from a plush boardroom to sleazy bars. Store and hotel detectives work in the business that they protect. Private detectives generally work alone, but they sometimes work with others during surveillance or when following a subject to avoid detection by the subject.

Some detective work involves confrontation, so the job can be stressful and dangerous. Some situations require the investigator to be armed, such as certain protection operations. The proper authority must license private detectives who carry firearms. In most cases a weapon is not necessary because the purpose of their work is gathering information and not law enforcement or criminal apprehension. Owners of detective agencies have added stress of having to deal with demanding and sometimes distraught clients.

Nature of the work

Private detectives utilize many means to determine the facts in a variety of cases. To effectively carry out an investigation, they use various types of surveillance or searches. To verify facts, such as an individual’s place of employment or income, they make phone calls or visit a subject’s workplace. In other cases, especially those involving missing persons and background checks, investigators often interview people to gather as much information as possible about an individual. In many cases, private detectives assist Attorney’s, businesses, and the public with a variety of legal, financial and personal problems.

Private detectives offer many services to include but not limited to;

Background investigations
Bail enforcement
Child custody investigations
Corporate espionage
Domestic
Customer service level shops and inspections
Discharge/termination protection
Employee theft investigations
Executive protection
Workplace violence protection
Fraud investigations
Robbery/Burglary suppression
Civil matters
Integrity shops
Intellectual property rights investigations
International protection details
Inventory control assessment
Locate missing persons/runaways
Loss prevention
Medical malpractice
Pirate enforcement
Pr-employment screening
Pre-Nuptial
Retail investigations
Process service
Stalking suppression/protection
Surveillance
Undercover and covert operations
Theft control assessment
Trademark infringement investigations
Insurance fraud investigations
Worker’s compensation investigations

Employment

Private detectives held approximately 48,000 jobs in 2002. About a third were self-employed, including many who held a secondary job as a self employed private detective. Almost a fifth of the jobs were found in investigation and security services, including private detective agencies, while another fifth were in department or other general merchandise stores. The rest worked mostly State and local government, legal service firms, employment services, insurance agencies, and credit intermediation and related activities, including banks and other depository institutions.

Training

There are typically no formal educational requirements for most private detective and investigator jobs, although many private detectives posses a college degree. Most private detectives typically have previous experience and training in other related occupations. Many private detectives enter the field after serving in law enforcement, the military, government investigative positions or Federal intelligence positions.

Former law enforcement officers and other related occupations often become private detectives as a second career because they frequently are able to retire after 20 years of service. Others enter from such diverse fields as finance, accounting, commercial credit, investigative reporting, insurance and law. These individuals can often apply their previous work experience in a related investigative specialty. A few enter the occupation directly after graduation from college, generally with an associates or bachelors degree in criminal justice or police science.

A majority of the States and the District of Colombia require private detectives and investigators to be licensed. Licensing requirements vary widely, but convicted felons cannot receive a license in most states and a growing number of States are enacting mandatory training programs for private detectives and investigators. Some States have few requirements, while others have strict requirements.

For most private detective jobs employers often seek candidates with trade school training, ingenuity, persistence and assertiveness. A candidate must not be afraid of confrontations, should communicate well, and should be able to think quickly on their feet. Good interviewing and interrogations skills are important. Because the courts are often the ultimate judge of a properly conducted investigation, the investigator must be able to present the facts in a manner a jury will believe.

Training from a reputable private investigation training school is helpful to aspiring private detectives, as well as criminal justice classes from college. Some investigators receive certification from professional organizations to demonstrate competency in a field. For example, the National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI) confers the Certified Legal Investigator designation to licensed investigators who devote a majority of their practice to negligence or criminal defense investigations. To receive this designation, applicants must satisfy experience, educational and continuing training requirements, and must pass written and oral exams administered by NALI.

Most private detective agencies are small, with little room for advancement. Generally there are no defined ranks or steps, so advancement takes the form of increases in salary and assignment status. Many private detectives work for detective agencies at the beginning of their careers, and after a few years, start their own investigative firms. Corporate and legal investigators may rise to supervisor or manager of the security or investigative department.