Private Investigator 0736800387, 9780736800389

Citation preview

Careers

without

College

Private

i

i

oldberg

1

80ST0N

PUBLIC LIBRARY

Copley

Square

[Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013

https://archive.org/details/privateinvestigaOOgold

Careers

without

College

Private

Investigator

by

Jan

Goldberg

Consultant: D. Trent Holman Treasurer Oklahoma

Private Investigators Association

Capstone High/Low an imprint

Books

of Capstone

Mankato,

Minnesota

Press

Capstone High/Low Books are published by Capstone Press 818 North Willow Street • Mankato, Minnesota 56001 http://www.capstone-press.com Copyright © 1999 Capstone Press. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The publisher takes no responsibility for the use of any of the materials or methods described in this book, nor for the products thereof. Printed in the United States of America. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Goldberg, Jan. Private Investigator/by Jan Goldberg, p. cm. — (Careers without college) Includes bibliographical references and index. Summary: Describes the necessary training, job responsibilities, work environment, salaries, and job outlook for private investigators. Provides addresses for contact information. ISBN 0-7368-0038-7 1 . Private investigators — United States — Juvenile literature. 2. Private investigators — Vocational guidance — United States — Juvenile literature. [1. Detectives — Vocational guidance. 2. Vocational guidance.] I. Title. II. Series: Careers without college (Mankato, Minn.) HV8088.G65 1999 363.28,9,02373— dc2 1

98- 17215 CIP AC

Editorial Credits Kimberly J. Graber and Angela Kaelberer, editors; James Franklin, cover designer and illustrator; Sheri Gosewisch, photo researcher Photo Credits David F. Clobes, 12, 22, 27, 28, 35, 36 Leslie O'Shaughnessy, cover, 6, 14. 30, 32, 38, 41, 44 Maguire PhotoGraFX/Joseph Maguire, 16 Oscar C. Williams, 4 Shaffer Photography/James L. Shaffer, 9 Unicorn Stock Photos/B. W. Hoffmann, 1 1; Florent Flipper, 19; Chuck Schmeiser, 20; Alon Reininger, 24

Table

Fast Facts

of

Content

...........................

Chapter

1

What

Private

Chapter

2

What

the Job Is like

Chapter

3

Training.

Chapter

4

Salary and

Chapter

5

Where

Words

Useful

... 7

................... Job Outlook.

17 23 31

.......

37

.......................

42

........................

45

Addresses

the Job Can

Lead

......................

46

Sites .........................

47

...............................

48

Internet Index

More

Do

.......

to Know

To Learn

Investigators

5

Fast

Facts

Career Title

.Private investigator

Minimum

.U.S.: high school diploma preferred

Educational

Requirement

Canada: high school diploma

Certification Requirement.

.U.S.: license required in most states Canada: license required

Salary Range. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Human Resources Development Canada, late 1990s figures)

U.S.: $19,100 to $67,700

Job Outlook (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Human Resources Development Canada, late 1990s projections)

U.S.: average growth Canada: stable

DOT Cluster (Dictionary of Occupational Titles)

Service occupations

DOT

376.267-018

Number

GOE Number (Guide for Occupational Exploration)

Canada: $28,700 to $39,800 (Canadian dollars)

04.01.02

NOC 6465 (National Occupational Classification — Canada)

5

8

I

Chapter

What

Private

Investigators

Private They

investigators

search

1

conduct

for facts about

Do

investigations.

people, places,

and events. Investigators

work

on many

types of cases.

They may investigate people's backgrounds or try to find missing people. They may investigate

crimes

Investigators companies.

and gather evidence.

may

work

Investigators

Private investigators

for individuals

receive

or

their cases from

may gather evidence, 7

clients. Clients pay private investigators

for

their services. Investigators clients. They

report their findings

also may

they find information Their

reports may

and videotapes. court. They

report to the police if about

include

criminal

also may

tell the court about

testify in

facts they found

and introduce

into the trial. Investigators

activity.

pictures, audiotapes,

Investigators

during investigations

to their

evidence

use this information

prove something. Types Some have

of Investigators investigators

are specialists. Specialists

a great deal of training in certain types of

investigations.

They

may

handle

only one type

of case. Legal investigators They

assist lawyers

Legal investigators Lawyers

in preparing

cases for court.

gather and study evidence.

use the evidence

Legal investigators 8

specialize in court cases.

investigators

find to

specialize in court cases.

to

1

prepare their cases. Lawyers

advise

the law and represent people

in court. Legal

investigators

also may

people

testify about

about

their findings

in court. Corporate These

investigators work

investigators may

people who

may

look for information

have committed

Investigators may money,

about

crimes.

try to catch workers

stealing

stealing supplies, or using illegal drugs. They

also investigate people who companies.

They

the companies Financial

do not work

for the

try to catch these people cheating

or stealing money investigators

dealing with money.

They

stolen by embezzlers. from

for large companies.

from

them.

specialize in cases may

try to find funds

Embezzlers

steal money

their companies.

Financial Courts

investigators

sometimes

someone

also may

order people

else. For example,

help courts.

to pay money

people

who

to

damage

other people's property may be ordered to pay for the damage. These people sometimes say they do

Financial investigators financial records. 10

help courts

by searching

not have

the money.

by searching the money. Many

Investigators

the people's

financial

private investigators

insurance

claims.

pay money

People

help courts records

specialize in

with insurance

to an insurance

for

company.

regularly

The

company

then pays for the people's losses due to sickness, fire, accidents, or other events. People sometimes pretend

to have

insurance

money.

investigators Many

property

losses or injuries to collect

Insurance

to make

companies

sure the claims

private investigators

shopping

malls. People

investigators

work

sometimes

store detectives.

often hire

are true. for stores or

call these

Store detectives

protect stores' property. They watch to stop shoplifters from stealing property. Store detectives may

capture and hold shoplifters. They

may

call the

police to arrest shoplifters. Gathering Private

investigators

ways. They

Many

Information

search

gather information

databases

private investigators

shopping

work

in many

for facts. These

for stores or

malls. 13

computer Many

files organize

public records

Investigators

might

and store information.

are stored in databases. study these records

about people's backgrounds. Private investigators also interview find information. learn what

Investigators

people

Private

investigators

evidence.

fingerprints

from

These

to

for physical or touched.

look for

and binoculars.

people

way

hidden

do this by watching areas. Investigators

usually carry cameras

or property

may

record

or the

also carry radios, car Binoculars

closer. They

Private investigators a robbery.

private investigators

tools help them

they find. They

objects appear watch

to

cases.

might

Investigators

surveillance

cameras.

phones,

ask questions

can be seen

is another

or property

conducting

people

after a robbery.

find information.

evidence

search

investigators

Surveillance

video

about

This evidence

For example,

people

know

to learn

make

distant

help investigators

without

being seen.

look for fingerprints after 15

What

the

Is

M

Job

Like

ore than half of all private investigators

their own

businesses

agencies.

Agencies

Private working

or work provide

investigators

hours. They

they are most Investigators

for detective detectives

often have

must

have

work

to clients.

unusual

whenever

likely to learn information. may

work

morning.

They

may

holidays.

Investigators

at night or early in the

work

on weekends

must

Private investigators must conduct surveillance.

work

work

and

unusual

unusual

hours

hours

to 17

to conduct contact

surveillance.

people who

regular working

They

cannot

also may

be reached

need

to

during

hours.

Private investigators

usually work

alone. But they sometimes

work

investigators.

often team

Investigators

with other up

during surveillance. Work

Environment

Private investigators offices. They databases.

spend time in their

use computers

They

make

many

to search phone

calls to

gather information. Many hours people

away

from

also spend a number

their offices. They

and conduct

also may They

investigators

surveillance.

interview

Investigators

talk with officers at police stations.

sometimes

go to court to testify.

Investigators' jobs can be risky. People become angry if they learn they are being

Private investigators gather information. 18

of

make

many

phone

can

calls to

watched.

People

interview

questions.

when

they receive

Some

not want Clients

Most

to answer

may

become

upset

reports with bad news.

investigators

themselves.

20

may

carry handguns

do not. An

to protect

investigator's

main

responsibility investigators

is to gather information. usually do not need

arrest criminals.

Private

Most

to challenge

investigators

or

do not have

police powers. Personal Private

Qualities

investigators

qualities. They Investigators

facts easily. They

Investigators

several

are curious

must

possible causes

have

and observant.

think quickly also must

and remember

consider

many

for events. have

good

communication

Investigators

learn information

people. They

communicate

witnesses

important

skills.

by talking with

information

and clients. Investigators

to

also testify in

court and write reports. People should

who

want

to become

private investigators

not be afraid of risk. They

persistent. They

often must

should

continue

to work

cases that are hard to solve. Investigators assertive. Assertive

be on

should

be

people stand up for themselves

and tell other people what

they think or want.

21

Traini

ng

Rople

prepare

various

ways.

people

who

companies

to be private investigators

Most

have

employers

high school

hire people

as part-time

prefer to hire diplomas.

without

investigators.

in

These

Some

experience

to work

investigators

train

on the job. The

amount

the employer. investigators community

of education Some

employers

to complete

investigators

to have

depends

on

require

programs

colleges. Some

require investigators

Some

required

offered

investigation bachelor's

by

specialties degrees,

train on the job. 23

Reporters may apply their interviewing as investigators.

usually in law enforcement

skills to jobs

or criminal

justice.

People earn bachelor's degrees by completing courses of study at colleges or universities. Usually people can earn bachelor's degrees in four years. Most investigators use skills learned in earlier jobs. Reporters

24

may

apply their interviewing

skills

to jobs as investigators. investigative

Many

skills from

investigators

learn

military, security guard,

or police jobs. Investigators experience people

become

to investigation

become

working

often can apply their work

financial

in finance

specialties. Some

investigators

or accounting.

legal investigators

after

Some

people

after working

in law

offices or on the police force. People before

must

agencies

investigators. checks.

will hire them

Applicants

Companies

education check

prove they are trustworthy

must

records.

applicants'

references.

statements

about

Educational

pass background

carefully check

history and work

for criminal

as private

records. They

These

applicants'

their Companies

also check

people

make

abilities.

Programs

Many

schools

offer private investigator

These

programs

vary widely. Some

programs.

involve

25

lessons people can study at home. many

hours

class work

of class work. with on-the-job

Students many how

to take pictures and interview

Students

programs

may

study criminal

study only law. Some

study

learn

witnesses.

They

and identify criminals.

in other programs

area. Some

combine

training.

study the law. They

to spot weapons

require

programs

in private investigator

subjects. They

learn how

one

Some

Others

study just

justice. Others

students

study business

or accounting. Licensing Most

U.S. states require private investigators

licensed.

State or local police departments

grant licenses for investigators. investigators

in Canada

Investigators receive

must

licenses. The

state or province.

include

meet

All private

certain requirements

requirements

diploma.

background

checks

depend

and most Other

to

on the states

requirements

and written tests.

Students in private investigator programs many subjects. 26

usually

licenses.

All provinces

require a high school may

have

to be

study

Applicants

may

be required

states or provinces work

experience.

investigators

to pay fees. Some

require a certain amount Some

states or provinces

to continue

their careers. Most

states or provinces

who

has been

What

Can

Do

Students should

who

want

proven

guilty of a

Now

to become

private investigators

writing skills. Students

investigative

and reporting

classes. Math

and business

about

and keeping

finance

and sports help students Students

learn how

databases

chances

classes

learn

skills in journalism classes teach students records.

Gym

classes

stay healthy and fit.

to conduct

in computer

People

might

will not

take a variety of classes. English

teach students

require

training throughout

license someone serious crime. Students

of

research

and read

classes.

with specialized

skills improve

of being hired. For example,

prefer to hire someone

who

their

a company

can take pictures

or can speak different languages.

Students databases

learn how

to conduct

in computer

classes.

research

and read 29

Salary

Outlook

Job

Full-time

and

private investigators

States earn from

$19,100

to $67,700

figures late 1990s). Average the United

States are about

private investigators to $39,800

earnings

for investigators

about

annual

a year (all earnings

$37,800.

in Canada

$28,700

in the United

in

Full-time

earn from

per year. Average in Canada

annual are

$35,400.

Private investigators

who

specialize earn more

than

general private investigators. 31

ilMM Investigators

often use cars.

Private investigators some

jobs than in others. Those

large cities earn more small towns.

who

than those who

Specialists earn more

private investigators.

32

can earn more

money work work

in

in in

than general

Private

investigators

who

bill their clients between plus case expenses. motel

use part of this income to running

their agencies

$50 and $150

These

fees and mileage.

own

expenses

Private

per hour

include

investigators

to pay the costs related

their businesses.

Employers

and clients usually pay for most

private investigators' working expenses. For example, investigators often use cars and make phone

calls.

Benefits Investigators

usually receive benefits if they work

for large companies.

These

payments

or services

are in addition to a salary or wage. Investigators' benefits include paid vacations and health insurance.

Investigators

large companies

may

who

do not work

for

not receive benefits.

Investigators' benefits also may include payments in addition to their salaries. Some companies

offer profit sharing. This benefit

33

offers employees a portion of their companies' profits. Some investigators also receive pensions. A pension

is money

paid regularly to a

retired person. Job

Outlook

Private investigation United The

States. The

is a growing

field in the

field is stable in Canada.

private investigation

quickly in the United

field is growing

States for several reasons.

First, people are afraid of crime. They investigators number Lawyers

for protection. Second,

need

investigators number

private investigators

to help them

of businesses

to stop embezzlers

private investigators

opportunities

as store detectives.

They

also offer good

A growing

of companies

security services.

are using and thieves.

also may

agencies.

security companies number

with cases.

will find the most

find part-time jobs with detective

34

an increasing

of people are taking other people to court.

Third, a growing

New

hire private

Private

opportunities.

are using private

New

private investigators will find good

opportunities

with private security companies.

People

who

enter the private investigation

field will face competition. become the work

Many

private investigators interesting. Some

and military jobs to become

people

because

people

wish

to

they find

leave police

private investigators.

35

Where

the

Lead

Can

Some

private investigators

advance.

They

may

Job

move

in large companies

into management

can

jobs.

Many

private investigators

stay in their jobs even

when

they cannot

Most

their work Traditional Corporate

advance.

investigators

find

interesting and challenging. Advancement and legal investigators

gain experience.

They

advance

as they

also earn raises in salary.

Most private investigators and challenging.

find their work

interesting

37

These

investigators

investigators.

may

Some

manage

oversee

Investigators can improve advancement.

They

other

entire departments. their chances

should get to know

of

other people

in the same

company.

people who

hold similar jobs in other companies.

These

They also should

people might share information

about job opportunities

get to know

they know

or projects. They

suggest investigators to people who

also might

are hiring.

Investigators should be active in investigators' organizations. Involvement in these organizations will help them in the same new

meet

people. Contact

with people

field will help investigators

ideas. These

ideas may

help them

learn do their

jobs better. Investigators

who

faster than those who

have

an education

do not. Many

advance

investigators

with bachelor's degrees become managers. Investigators who know about many subjects are most

likely to advance.

Investigators

Some private investigators private investigators.

manage

who

have

other 39

specialized

skills also improve

their chances

of advancing. Other

Opportunities

Private investigators

who

agencies

opportunities

Most

have

fewer

detective

agencies

few opportunities investigators

Many detective They

for detective

are small and offer

for advancement.

often get to choose

Some

Their

cases that

and interest them. investigators agencies

work

when

for stores or

they begin their careers.

often try to start their own

they have

to advance.

do earn salary raises. Investigators

with experience challenge

work

more

agencies

when

experience.

private investigators

careers. Investigators

have

move

to different

skills that may

be

useful in other fields. Related

careers include

police officers or government

agents.

Private investigators in other fields. 40

have skills that may

be useful

Words

agency

to

Know

(AY-juhn-see) — a business

that provides

a service to the public bachelor's degree (BACH-uh-lurz di-GREE) — a title a person receives for completing a course of study at a college or university benefit

(BEN-uh-fit) — a payment

addition

to a salary or wages

client (KLYE-uhnt) — a person someone database organize evidence

who

uses

else's services (DAY-tuh-bayss) — computer

files that

and store information (EV-uh-duhnss) — information

helps prove something

42

or service in

that

interview

(IN-tur-vyoo) — to ask someone

investigation

(in-vess-tuh-GAY-shuhn) — a search

for facts about license

something

(LYE-suhnss) — a document

official permission pension

questions

that gives

to do something

(PEN-shuhn) — money

paid regularly to a

retired person profit sharing in which

(PROF-it

employees

companies' surveillance of a person

SHAIR-ing) — a system

receive

a portion of their

profits (sur-VAY-lens) — close observation or place

testify (TESS-tuh-fye) — to state facts in court

43

To

Learn

Camenson, and

Blythe.

Other

for You.

Cosgrove,

for You.

111.: VGM

Buffs Careers

Career

Discovery

vol. 5. Chicago:

J. G. Ferguson

Co., 1997.

Jan. Careers

for Courageous

Adventurous

Lincolnwood,

Horizons,

Josephson,

Sleuths. VGM

Holli, ed. Career

Other

for Mystery

1997.

Publishing

and

and

Lincolnwood,

Encyclopedia,

Goldberg,

Careers

Snoops

Horizons,

More

Types. VGM 111.: VGM

People Careers

Career

1998.

Judith

Pinkerton.

The Original

Private

Publications,

1996.

Allan

Pinkerton:

Eye. Minneapolis:

Lerner

45

Useful

Addresses

Council of Private 130 Melford Drive

Investigators — Ontario

Suite 8 Scarborough,

Ontario

M1B

2X5

Canada National and

Council

Security

of Investigation Services

611 Pennsylvania

Avenue

SE

Suite 2686 Washington, World

46

20003-4303

Association

P.O. Box Aurora,

DC

of Detectives

441000-301 CO

80044

Internet

Career

Sites

Guide — Detective/Private

Investigator

http://www.aboutwork.com/career/Careers/ Car051.html How

to Become

a Private

Investigator

http://www.infoguys.com/private_investigators/ how_to.html Occupational Detectives

Outlook and

Handbook — Private

Investigators

http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocosl57.htm Other

Occupations

in Protective

Services

http://www.workfutures.bc.ca/fl/646_EB_l.HTM

47

Index dU VallLClIlClll, J/, J", H-VJ

lllldllcldl 111 V Coll^dlUl :■>, 1U, Z/J

harlcoronnH^ V IS

information 8 10 1 ^ IS 91 J);7 117/ - 18 1 O, Zl, i111nvPQti crnti on 7-8 VCSllgclllUll, / o, ^zt

UeiieillS, JJ hinor'iil^r^; U111UC Uldl o, 1 uS clients, 8, 17,20,21,33 computers, 18 corporate investigators, 10, 37 court, 8, 10, 13, 18, 21, 34 criminals, 21, 26 databases, 13, 15, 18, 29

legal investigators, 8, 10, 25,37 licenses, 26 managers, 39 police, 8, 13 references, 25

earnings, 3 1 education, 23, 39 embezzlers, 10, 34 evidence, 7, 8, 15

48

skills, 21,24-25, 29, 40 specialists, 8, 32 surveillance, 15, 18

_—

Careers without

Fast-Growing Require

College

Jobs

That

a Four-Year

TITLES

IN THIS

Worker

Correction

Officer

Medical

Fire Fighter Service

Physical

Assistant

Therapist

Private

Retail

Therapy

Surgical

Guard

Technician

Tractor-Trailer-Truck

ISBN

3-7368-0038-7 90000>

C

A

P

Ai

Salesperson

Security

Aide

Assistan

Investigator

Occupational

Manager

Health

Technician

Paralegal

Heating-and-AirConditioning Servicer Home

Assistant

Record

Nurse

Hygienist

Emergency Medical Technician

ood

Degree

Medical

Care

Dental

Not

SERIES:

Actor Child

Do

S

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High/Low

Dri

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http://www.capstone-press.c< Reinforced Library Binding 9 780736"800389