What is a Private Investigator?

What is a Private Investigator?

Private investigators are independent, civilian investigators who are engaged by people or organizations involved in civil or criminal cases that need surveillance, documentation, research, or interviews to gather evidence for business, legal, or criminal cases. Private investigators are also specialists who must "collect clues and verify facts for their investigations," according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What do they do?

The skills and expertise of private investigators are of value in a large number of areas, including:

  • Computer forensics services

  • Personal protection services

  • Undercover investigations

  • Supplier, vendor, and employee screening programs

  • Crisis intervention services

  • Retail loss and prevention

  • Criminal investigation services

  • Polygraph services

  • Missing person services

  • Pre-employment screenings

  • Personal investigations