A private investigator is a skilled and professionally trained person who is hiring by individuals or groups to provide investigatory law services. Private investigators also sometimes called PI or the more informal term, private eye, often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many are also available to provide their investigative services to individuals.
PIs have a long history dating all the way back to 1833 when a French soldier named Eugene Francois Vidocq founded the first private detective agency which, when translated, was called The Office of Universal Information for Commerce and Industry. Vidocq also happened to be a criminal and tended to hire ex-convicts as employees.
It’s not the most respectable way for an industry to start, although modern private investigators are generally not ex-convicts. Vidocq’s agency was the target of numerous police investigations that resulted with the man being arrested on suspicion of taking money on false pretences.
Vidocq may have had a criminal background, but he is also credited with the introduction of ballistics, criminology and record keeping as it relates to criminal investigations. He was the first person to create plaster casts of shoe impressions.
Early private investigators worked on cases their clients felt the police weren’t equipped to handle. This was the main work they did, but PIs also sometimes provided private armed guards and assisted companies in labor disputes.
In 1850 the Pinkerton National Detective Agency was established by Allan Pinkerton, the man who is credited with preventing an assassination on then president-elect Abraham Lincoln. Pinkerton’s agency provided undercover investigation services, armed security and detection of crimes related to businesses and industries. In 1856 Pinkerton hired the first private detective in America, Kate Warne.
Since then the profession has changed and evolved considerably. Modern private investigators are nothing like the people you see in that industry on television dramas, movies or even many mystery books. A significant amount of effort has been placed into making the profession and PI industry overall more respectable and proper. Now it’s possible for PIs to obtain a private investigator’s license, which is one of the features you should always look for when hiring a private investigator.
Once you’ve made the decision to hire a private investigator, and after you’ve made sure the individual you’ve hired is a respectable business individual, there are still a couple of things to take into consideration before getting him to work on your job.
You’ll meet with the PI before he begins work on your job. Make sure you’re clear about the type of service you need so that you can get a clear answer as to how much it’ll cost. A professional should be able to provide an accurate estimate if you are clear about the type of work you require.
Private Investigators In Phoenix Az work in a mega-American city of about 4.5 million people. With this many people, there’s sure to be some crime. The PI has his own set of ethics and morals to follow and may want more information from you as well in order to protect himself.
The initial meeting is like a job interview and should be treated that way. This means when providing accurate information about your needs, be sure to bring all relevant information including documents. The initial consultation should be free. Expect questions from any Phoenix based private investigator.