How to Handle Evidence as a Private Investigator

By Stephanie Irvine

For many private investigators, the culmination of the work that they do ends in a courtroom — that is, provided the evidence they collect is handled appropriately and admissible in court. Whether the evidence gathered by a private investigator is for a family law case, insurance fraud, or even to assist in a cold case, there are certain steps that must be taken to ensure that all of the effort isn’t for naught. No matter what type of evidence you’re collecting, doing so within the parameters of the law and with appropriate and complete documentation is a necessity.

Obtaining & Handling Physical Evidence

It is critical that physical evidence be handled in such a way so as not to contaminate or compromise the integrity of the evidence. This means before even touching a piece of physical evidence, it must be documented to include where the evidence was found, the date and time that it was found, the general conditions of which it was found including the temperature, wind, weather, amount of light, etc., and how it was procured.

Complete and thorough documentation is absolutely necessary because without it, the evidence could be deemed contaminated or cause the defense to question its authenticity. Documentation …read more

Source:: Private Invest