Private Investigator Can Help You In a Criminal and Civil Case.

Depending on the type of investigation, the average investigation can take a few weeks to a few months. The average legal case takes anywhere from six months to more than two years to litigate. A quick settlement or trial is not always the best choice for clients.

Luckily, a private investigator, like Tactical Investigations can help you. Private investigators can assist lawyers in gathering evidence and greatly reduce the time needed for discovery and pre-trial stages. Hiring a private investigator is also a cost-effective choice.

Yet, one of the most common questions we hear at Tactical Investigations about hiring private investigators for legal cases is: are private investigators worth it? We want to help answer that question.

What Is a Private Investigator?

Let’s first answer the basic question of what a Private investigator (PIs) is and does. Private investigators are civilians who investigate criminal and civil matters but who are not affiliated with law enforcement. They typically offer services like surveillance, web research, interviewing witnesses, background checks, review of evidence and much more. In the State of Texas, Private Investigators are required to be license through the Department of Public Safety and meet very specific qualifications.

What Types of Cases Do PIs Investigate?

A Private Investigator will often work in a variety of settings. They may run pre-employment background checks for employers, investigate marital affairs for private individuals, or assist law enforcement with missing persons cases. Lawyers will often hire a Private Investigator to gather evidence in difficult cases. Private Investigators can supplement legal teams in multiple ways, from interviewing witnesses to studying case reports for new leads.

Often Private Investigators will specialize in certain types of investigations. In the legal field, Private Investigators generally have expertise in civil cases, criminal cases, or both. They may work for lawyers, plaintiffs, or defendants.

Civil Cases

Civil law covers conflicts between individuals and institutions. The following types of cases fall under civil law: Family matters, including divorce, child support, and legal name change cases, Contract breaches, Landlord/tenant disagreements and equitable claims. These types of cases often settle before reaching a judge. However, if a civil case is going to trial, the winning side must prove a preponderance of the evidence. In other words, one side has to have more convincing evidence.

What happens then if your side's evidence is not convincing enough? This is where a Private Investigators can be useful. Private Investigators can gather additional evidence and, with their analytical skills, determine if that evidence is enough to make your case.

Criminal Cases

Criminal law covers crimes against property and people. There is no such thing as a settlement in a criminal proceeding. There is often a possibility that the prosecutor can offer a plea deal. These cases don’t always go to trial, depending on the acceptance of a plea deal offered and the evidence in the case. If the case does go to a trial, a judge and jury will prosecute the defendant and determine punishments like jail time, fines, and more.

In criminal cases, prosecutors must prove the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a higher standard of proof than civil cases because, again, the stakes are higher.

Private Investigators can help lawyers on both sides of the court. They can help prosecutors gather enough evidence to prove the defendant's guilt. Or they can help defense attorneys find evidence to maintain their client's innocence.

The benefit of a private investigator in cases.

Giving an Extra Pair of Eyes for Discovery

The great thing about private investigation services is that Private Investigators are impartial. Lawyers are partial to their clients. But Private Investigators don't technically work for either side, giving them an unbiased view.

This can really come in handy during discovery. Private Investigators are highly skilled in research and analysis. They can act as a second pair of eyes on documents and evidence obtained from the other side.

How Can a PI Help with a Criminal Case?

This can be important in criminal cases as many private investigators, like Tactical Investigations have a background in law enforcement or criminal justice. That is Private Investigators often provide assistance to criminal defense attorneys and their clients.

If you have questions about how Tactical Investigations can assist in your investigation. Call us @ 512-589-7462. We are here to help!