Are Private Investigators Legal
3/23/2017
Is what we do legal? The answer is YES, however, as with all professions, there are laws that govern what private investigators can and cannot legally do. All private investigators in the state of Connecticut are supposed to be licensed through the Connecticut State Police Special Licensing & Firearms Units, bonded and insured. This unit is part of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and it has a set of laws private investigators must follow for everything from our professional conduct to our hiring process.
It is important to note that the big difference between being a licensed private investigator and an unlicensed one is that the latter is stalking. What can a private investor do legally? As licensed investigators, we are allowed to conduct surveillance, complete background checks (which sometimes include sensitive data), and testify in court as an expert witnesses, as we are an indifferent party. Due to these professional privileges, all of our employees must undergo a background check and be approved by the Connecticut State Police Special Licensing & Firearms Unit.
In order to make sure our client's purpose is served and that all the evidence gathered is legal and valid in any court of law, we constantly stay up to date on laws both civil and criminal, licensing, insurance, and any and all changes to our professional regulations that may affect private investigation and how we conduct it.
Believe it or not, things as simple as how and where a GPS is placed changes whether an investigation is legal or not. Other considerations such as where you observe a subject from, how an agent takes video footage, and what is included on that footage can change the legality of a private investigation. Being experts on the best practices of legal investigations allows us to best serve our clients.
When hiring a private investigator, always beware of hiring anyone who is not properly licensed or is not properly registering their agents. For instance, detective agencies cannot share agents; if an agent is registered to a company, they can work only for that company until they are registered to another company as well. Even subcontracting cases out has legal parameters that need to be followed.
Remember to always ask about an agency’s competence. All of the intricacies mentioned above are important factors that could ultimately destroy your case, even if these detectives have gathered good evidence in your favor.