From AFI-LLC Best of Blog 2012
Originally posted 01/12/2012

Homicides are down, while Natural and Accident deaths rise

Statistics for 2010 from the Center for Disease Control for the top five leading causes of death. Slayings (homicide) is no longer on the list, has been since 1965. #5 is accidents and #10 is suicides.  The other good news...infant mortality is down 3.9%.

The remaining causes of death in the top 15 for 2010 are those of natural disease processes, with heart disease being the leader.

These statistics reveal a few things…

-- Breakthroughs in medicine have helped infant mortality, but not other natural diseases.  That is not to lay the blame on medicine, we are responsible for what we do.  Of the disease processes, most are likely result of our diets and habits, while others are unknown (i.e. cancer); some are one or the other – such as heart disease or diabetes with a family history, or cancer caused by smoking.  Others may be environmental or other causes, such as some environmentally related carcinogens.

At the same time, several natural diseases rose in the rankings, including Alzheimer’s, kidney disease and cirrhosis.  Of these, some are naturally progressing while others are essentially induced.  Research is making progress.  Alzheimer’s may be on the rise simply because of awareness and increased treatment – not too long ago when an elderly person showed symptoms it was just aging.

-- Homicides may be down due to social behavior and awareness, as well as law enforcement and policing efforts.  The highest ranking has been #13.

-- Suicides remain concerns both individually and to society.  There are no solutions to suicide, as contributing factors can include from mental health to personal.  Education and awareness continue to be the frontline efforts to lower the suicide rate.

-- Accidents, or deaths caused by unintentional acts, is the second leading Manner of Death.  These arise from everything from personal acts to work place incidents.  These may be from as negligence of the decedent or others, to careless and reckless behavior of the decedent or others.  In addition, we cannot overlook the impact that alcohol and other drug, licit and illicit, deaths have had on this particular Manner of Death.

Many feel that the purpose of the legal investigator is to find favor of the facts to their client.  This is far from the truth, no pun intended.  In fact (no pun intended again), the sole responsibility of the legal investigator is to elicit information through an investigative process that aids the fact finder in determine the facts and evidence to make their determination of the direct and circumstantial truth.  The trier of fact is typically a judge or jury.  However, in some instances this may be by the family or an insurance company.  This becomes an Equivocal Death Investigation, which hopes to provide peace of mind or closure, and to determine if the death of a loved one has been properly investigated, such as homicide vs. suicide, suicide v. accident, or accident v. homicide.

If should be further noted that the statistics in the stories are derived from death certificate data (one of the purposes of death certificates is to collect data).  Unfortunately, this may not be the most accurate way of collecting this data.  Specifically:
-- Most deaths that are reported as 'Natural' are not autopsied and therefore the final Cause of Death is appropriately subjective based upon medical history.
-- However, many elderly deaths are improperly classified as 'Natural' when the underlying cause could be an 'Accident', such as consequential to a hip fracture or other ailment as a result of an underlying unnatural and accidental event.

Full stories can be found at:http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/11/3364738/murder-not-a-top-cause-of-death.html
http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-death-rates-homicide-20120111,0,1761439.story

A thorough official medicolegal death analysis, and if necessary full investigation, should be done at the time of death.  If there are any lingering or unanswered questions, an independent medicolegal death analysis, and if necessary full investigation, should be considered.

To learn more about our Equivocal Death Analysis and Equivocal Death Investigations, please visit www.EquivocalDeathAnalysis.com

From AFI-LLC Best of Blog 2012
Originally posted 01/01/2012

What are Equivocal Death Investigations and Equivocal Death Analysis?

What does it mean to conduct an Equivocal Death Investigation or Analysis (EDI, EDA)?  We get asked this question time and time again.  An Equivocal Death Investigation is an in depth investigation into a death that has lingering questions.  Many families have come to us for help in understanding the circumstances surrounding a loved one’s death.  The manners of death can be classified as any of the following:  homicide, suicide, natural, accident or undetermined.  Sometimes the family/loved one of the deceased individual does not agree with the final determination and have a yearning for more answers.  

We will analyze all of the information the family/loved one has on the decedent and comb through the information step by step to trace the steps in the original investigative process.  We will answer any questions the family/loved one has regarding the death, and we do this with an unbiased open mind. 

Reconstructing a death and the investigation will assist the family/loved one in the healing process.  Sometimes our minds can get carried away creating numerous scenarios which only adds to our lingering questions and distress over a loved one’s death.  We can help quiet some or even all of those questions so that you may heal and carry on with your life.  Many times a professional second opinion regarding whether the investigation was conducted properly in the first place with be enough to ease your mind.

If we find discrepancies in the original reports, or find that the evidence does not match the final decisions, we will point out these concerns, which can sometimes mean reopening the case for further investigation.  Providing family/loved ones with answers to ease their minds is our main goal.  Life can be stressful and difficult enough without the constant worry surrounding a loved one’s death.

Due to the overwhelming need for an Equivocal Death Analysis, we have created a flat-rate fee to further assist families in finding answers.  An affordable, small price to pay for peace of mind.

Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC will provide a no-fee initial consultation to review your case.  We may provide a no –fee review of the circumstances to determine if we can accept your case.  We provide services to private investigators, attorneys, insurance companies and families.  To begin finding answers today – call now and visit www.EquivocalDeathInvestigations.com

What circumstances of death would benefit from an equivocal death investigation?  

The experts at AFI-LLC have experience in all of the following death and serious bodily injury cases.  These may include civil, criminal and probate litigation or simply answers and closure for the family.

- Victims of homicide or suspected homicide.
- Victims of suicide or suspected suicide.
- Persons dead on arrival at medical care facility.
- Victims of accidental death or suspected accidental death.
- Persons dying due to vehicular accidents (auto, motorcycle, boat, etc.).
- Infant deaths and specifically “crib deaths” (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
- Cases of overt or suspected child abuse.
- Cases of overt or suspected elder abuse.
- Persons dying in aircraft accidents.
- Patients that die within 24 hours of admission to any medical care facility.
- Cases in which a physician is not in attendance, or when, though in attendance, the physician is unable to certify the cause of death.
- Cases where the decedent has not been seen by a physician within forty-five (45) days of death.  
- Deaths of unexplained causes, suspicious circumstances, or if the death was the result of traumatic means.
- Deaths occurring while the decedent is in police custody or during transport.
- Cases of recovery of skeletal remains.
- Cases wherein there is such postmortem decomposition that a sufficient investigation and external examination to rule out injuries cannot be made and where the circumstances of the death do not enable one to rule out other than natural means.
- Industrial or employment accidents.
- Death by poison or suspicion of poison.
- Cases where the victim dies suddenly when in apparent good health.
- Deaths associated with diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
- Any patient has sustained an injury (fracture, fall, concussion, etc) prior to or during a medical care facility admission.
- Exhumations (disinterment) performed for the purpose of establishing the cause of death or clearing up a question relating to the cause of death.

Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC will provide a no-fee initial consultation to review your case.  We may provide a no –fee review of the circumstances to determine if we can accept your case.  We provide services to private investigators, attorneys, insurance companies and families.  To begin finding answers today – call now.

Visit www.EquivocalDeathInvestigations.com

Best of 2012
Scene Investigations - Conducting vs. Completing the Investigative Process

Originally posted 02/29/2012

As investigators we get the opportunity to investigate all aspects of a case.  Sometimes a case may require some scene work. 

Even if at first it appears that the case does not require a visit to the scene, if you have the opportunity, it is always recommended to go back where the event first began.  Whether the case involves a death, a motor vehicle accident, or some type of crime, take the extra time, go that extra mile and visit the scene.  You might be surprised once you visit the scene to find out that something could not have occurred the way the witness, victim or police officer claims.  It is best not to rely on others to do the work you need to do yourself.  You are the investigator, and someone is depending on you to see, hear, and get an overall feel of what the scene was like.

Once you have made up your mind that you should go visit the scene for yourself, the next thing to think about is the date and time of when the original event took place.  Sometimes it may be a year or even a few years after the event occurred and you may have more work cut out for you than what you originally suspected.  Let’s take for instance a case that is a couple of years old where a motor vehicle accident occurred at a particular intersection on May 12, 2008 at 6:00pm.  You head back to the scene and after canvassing the area, you discover this is in the middle of a subdivision.  After interviewing some of the people in the neighborhood, you discover that the traffic light that is now at the intersection was not there two years prior.  Also you are told that when the traffic light was installed, there were sidewalks put in place and some shrubbery was cut down.  This information will give you some things to work on and measurements to take regarding the motor vehicle accident.  When you compare the photos taken at the scene, hopefully someone did their job and took some photos, and with the awesome photos you will take; you will be able to find the comparison facts necessary in the case.  

One very important aspect to take into account when you plan to visit the scene is the time of year.  Say you were given this case in December, 2010.  You must take into account the fact that the lighting and weather will be different in December versus in May.  So you will need to calculate by using either a site that you are familiar with, or this site http://www.timeanddate.com   Let’s take for instance the sunrise time for May 12, 2008 in Denver, CO was at 5:48am and the sunset time was 8:05pm.  We know the accident took place at approximately 6:00pm on May 12, 2008; however, you receive the case on December 12, 2010.  The sunrise time for December 12, 2010 is 7:12am and the sunset is 4:36pm.   

So to continue on for the example case, the best time to visit the scene to get close to a similar light source, you would need to visit the scene at approximately 2:30pm on December 12, 2010 since the accident occurred approximately 2 hours before sunset on May 12, 2008.  This may seem like too much trouble to some investigators, but if you want to see what others saw in similar daylight, or if the case was during evening ambient light, then this extra step is worth doing in order to get as close to that time frame as possible.  Something as simple as figuring out the best time to visit a scene will assure your client that they hired the right investigator and this will give them confidence in your work product. 

Also, if you get the case shortly after the motor vehicle accident occurred, you will have more than one scene to visit.  Consider all options available that are connected to the main scene and go visit the mini scenes.  For instance, if the vehicle or vehicles are still available to view, it is important to go see these vehicles with your own eyes and take several photos.  Again, you as the investigator need to investigate the damage of the vehicles, do not rely on what other people say they saw or thought they might have seen.  You might just be amazed at what you see in the photographs you take versus what you saw in person. 

When there are motor vehicle accidents involving an intersection with a traffic light, you will want to go to that site, again using the time analysis as described, and sit and watch the light change for yourself.  Once you investigate the traffic light and document all necessary information, you will want to take this a step further and contact the traffic engineers who maintain that particular intersection.  The traffic engineers could be a private company or department of a jurisdiction which may be at the state, county or municipal level. 

These are important extra steps necessary in order to either collaborate what witnesses have stated, or dismiss their statements.  Another reason to check traffic lights yourself, and then make contact with the traffic engineers is to ensure there was not a power outage, maintenance, or weather related issues on the date in question.  By checking the pattern of the lights yourself, you will then be able to discuss what you documented with the traffic engineers.  Perhaps you might even alert them to an issue they did not realize they had with that particular traffic light.

Times and dates are not the only thing to think about when you visit a scene.  The temperature, as well as the type of weather has an influence on the entire scope of your investigation.  To find the temperatures and weather on a given date and time, one site to use is http://www.wunderground.com, and you will find more than enough weather information to complete your investigation.

Don’t forget water and the rate of flow during certain times of the year as well.  If you need to go back to the scene of an accident involving water; the water levels, weather, time and date will all have an effect on how you need to conduct your investigation.  To find water flow and temperatures an informative site to use is http://www.usgs.gov, which is full of information on water past and present of the United States.  For other countries Google the words “water flow data” for your region as well as the name of the water resource you are interested in finding more information about.

When you are hired by a client, whether an attorney, another investigator, or a private citizen, the client needs to feel confident that you will do a thorough investigation, not a haphazard or simple investigation (unless of course they specifically ask for a simple investigation).  Also, if you are being contacted to do an investigation or a reinvestigation, more than likely the first investigation was not conducted thoroughly or satisfactorily from the beginning.  By explaining to clients that you take these extra steps in your investigations, you are telling them you go that extra mile that others may not.  You are completing, instead of simply conducting, an investigation.  These added ideas could be simple things even your clients have not thought about, which might give them that “aha” moment, and sometimes that is all it takes to get you the job.  Remember, just a few more steps in the investigative process can gain you leaps in your quality of work as well as gains in the confidence of your clients, the choice is up to you.

Part Two

There are several key points to scene investigations:
-- Likely multiple scenes
-- Likely different witness perspectives
-- Likely different investigative perspectives
-- Completing vs. Conducting investigations

What should the attorney, private client or insurance company be prepared for in having an skilled and experienced investigative process?

First, what is a scene?  Well, it is not necessarily a 'crime scene' - it is where an event or incident took place.  It has not been determined if a crime occurred until after the official investigation is complete -- and even then, that could be conclusively inaccurate.  Suicides are not crimes, accidents may be - such as some motor vehicle collisions.  Second, as Karen pointed out, there will almost ALWAYS be multiple scenes.  In fact, I would say ALWAYS!  If the incident involves a person, and a place and a thing -- those are at least three scenes.  Driver, intersection and vehicle.  Not just the driver, not just the intersection and not just the vehicle.  They are all integral pieces of the puzzle - of the investigation.  Unfortunately, more often than not, all that is requested is to 'go to the scene' (intersection).  If the official investigation were limited to the intersection, the attorney-client would be all over the inadequate and, frankly, incompetent investigation.  In your report, document specifically what the assignment and instructions were.  Not every time will you get to see each of the integral components - or scenes - but recommend that all efforts be tried.  In addition, don't limit yourself (i.e. your investigation and your client's case) to the immediate and instant scenes.  Canvas the neighborhood, find other drivers from statements and reports that were at the intersection.  I once found a bicyclist who happened upon a scene from no more than a responding paramedic remembering that his friend, the bicyclist, was already on scene giving aid but left before giving a statement.

We have all learned that there are as many variables to an incident as there are witnesses, distractions, attentiveness, and perspective.  Every person has various functioning capacities of the five senses.  Interviews and investigations should be conducted that inquire into each of these senses.  Perhaps a nearby vehicle driver was on the phone and only saw the vehicles impact, but the passenger heard the sounds of skidding and saw the impact.  As Karen described in her article, perspective is different, environments change.  A four-way intersection has at least four different perspectives.  That does not take into account every vehicle, occupant, position, lighting, attention and other important considerations.  The investigative and interview process needs to cover each of these.

As private sector investigators, we primarily re-investigate official investigations.  There are examples of primary cases conducted by our profession, such as workplace investigations.  We will dissect and analyze everything (you do, right?) and are very critical of the official investigation.  So critical, that if we find nothing askew, we tell our client (you do, right?).  However, in all investigative processes we learn that there are different perspectives from the law enforcement perspective.  Their job is ... law enforcement.  If they have reason to believe a crime has been committed, that may lead to investigatory measures to determine reasonable suspicion.  That is a perspective that many investigators in the private sector do not have.  That continues through probable cause and filing of charges.  Each person along that path has a perspective --  from the first responding law enforcement officer to the investigator, then to the prosecuting attorney and presiding judge.  Ultimately the perspective of the jury may be the final outcome.  Our initial concern are that of the investigative process.  Without seeing the perspective, accurately or otherwise, of those involved in the official investigation, you simply assist the client with the prosecutor's office or judicial process.  Think outside the box, enhance all of your senses, and use all of your education, training and skills.  Do not limit your investigation to a preconceived conclusion or goal.  If you feel you have found the facts to prove the preponderance of your client's case, that is not enough.  It is not enough for law enforcement to reach probable cause, that is making an arrest and charge - hoping for a conviction.

In the private sector we have the advantage of being able to sit back and see the investigative process and evidence from a unique perspective.  We are not first responders, under pressure or working a caseload that causes us to lose focus.  However, all investigators - public, private, business, etc., all have a responsibility to conduct AND complete the investigative process.  All investigators are fact finders and seekers of the truth.  We do not decide the truth, that is up to another, but we do intend for our facts to be seen in the same truth by others as we see for ourselves.

#####

Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI, earned her Bachelor's in Social Work from Colorado State University (Magna Cum Laude).  She is a Colorado Licensed Private Investigator (#PI-502) and also a Certified Criminal Defense Investigator (CCDI) and certified in Medicolegal Death Investigations.  Her background, education and experience with victim advocacy and counseling are valuable assets in working with families and victims of traumatic events.

As a death investigator Karen was involved in the investigations of all manners of deaths and incidents, training under three Forensic Pathologists.  From 2004-2006 she investigated and assisted with numerous death cases and scenes, and assisted with forensic autopsies.

Following graduation from Colorado State University was an extensive internship at a youth counseling and rehabilitation facility.  She is also a member of the Criminal Defense Investigations Training Council.  Karen has been professionally published with 'The Basics of an Autopsy Report' (PI Magazine, Dec 2011) and 'Understanding Suicide and its Prevention – Equivocal Death Investigations' (PursuitMag.com, Dec 2011), ‘False Confessions and Accusations’ (PursuitMag.com, Feb 2012).  With Dean she co-developed 'Death Investigation for Private Investigators', an online continuing education course for www.PIEducation.com.

Karen is a member of the Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council and the National Defender Investigator Association.

Karen enjoys also using her creative mind with painting, drawing and writing - including 'Letters from Yesteryear' at www.LettersFromYesteryear.com.  They have two daughters, a granddaughter and identical twin grandsons.

Professional Investigations:
Individual Locates, Backgrounds and Assets & Liabilities
Revised and Updated 2012

All versions of this eBook can be downloaded from www.ProfessionalLocateInvestigations.com
Download now and save 25% with discount code CW55H

Dean's first published book, the first book for your library, is the self-published 'Professional Locate Investigations' has been completely revised and updated!  It is now the first in our new series, 'Professional Investigations' - 'Individual Locates, Backgrounds and Assets & Liabilities'.

Professional Investigations: Individual Locates, Backgrounds and Assets & Liabilities - revised and expanded in 2012.

This is an expanded and revised update to the 2006 original 'Professional Locate Investigations'. This is a simple, straight to the point, guide to learning to conduct any type of skip tracing investigation, and use those skills and resources to also conduct any type of background records check or investigation, as well as assets & liabilities records check or investigation.

This book includes the different types of records and resources, how to search them and extrapolate data to further the investigative process. For the first time in this book is a guide to also learning the basics of fact finding investigations and reporting.

This book is written by Dean Beers, a Certified Legal Investigator and Certified Criminal Defense Investigator with nearly 25 years of experience conducting investigations. Karen Beers, BSW and also a Certified Criminal Defense Investigator, is the co-author, making her professional publication debut.

All versions of this eBook can be downloaded from www.ProfessionalLocateInvestigations.com
Download now and save 25% with discount code CW55H

S2 Safety & Intelligence Institute for Private Investigators
S2 Safety & Intelligence has courses designed for the new and veteran Private Investigator, and specifically for Florida licensing, but also applicable to all states and continuing education.

Visit  http://afi.s2institute.com for complete details and registration



IN102-DL
$379.00 Principles of Private Investigations Course The S2 Principles of Private Investigations Course is designed to prepare students for employment in the field of private investigations. In this 32-hour distance learning course, students are provided with a detailed examination of investigative subjects including ethics, investigations law, background investigations, public and private records searches, interviewing techniques, report writing, surveillance, locating people, trial preparation, and more. This course is recommended for new private investigations students located outside of Florida in addition to licensed private investigators seeking to improve their existing knowledge and skills. This course includes many of the same lessons as the Florida Private Investigator Intern Program, but narrows the focus of subjects to private investigations only and excludes lessons that largely focus on Florida Law. As an S2 professional development program, students enrolling in the Principles of Private Investigations Course do not have to apply as Career Education Program students. Students that seek licensure as Private Investigator Interns in the State of Florida should enroll in the Florida Private Investigator Intern Program. We strongly recommend that students located in states other than Florida should consult their state laws for any unique training and licensing requirements before enrolling in this course.

IN110-DL
$169.00 Legal Aspects of Private Investigations For most new and experienced private investigators, critical mistakes are rarely the result of poor investigative skills and techniques. Rather, in many instances, the most critical mistakes result by failing to fully understand the law as it relates to case matters and the lawful conduct of investigations. In this 8-hour distance learning course, expert private investigators and authors Rory McMahon and Ron Azzarello explore the various dimensions of law and private investigations and shed light on many issues of criminal and civil law that have been historically problematic for private investigators.

IN111-DL
$149.00 Sources of Information for Private Investigators In this seven-hour distance learning course, veteran private investigator and author Rory McMahon surveys the wide range of information sources available to private investigators and various methods for accessing information. In addition to exploring techniques for collecting information from various sources, Mr. McMahon also provides critical guidance on a number of practical issues such as case management and planning, structuring background investigations, due diligence investigations, unique approaches to locating missing people, etc.

IN112-DL
$119.00 Interviewing Techniques and Truth Verification In this five-hour distance learning course, veteran PI and author Rory McMahon explores the art of interviewing and various strategies and techniques for conducting successful interviews in support of investigations. In addition to techniques for conducting interviews and recording statements, this course also provides guidelines for documenting interviews and report writing.

IN113-DL
$79.00 Principles of Undercover Work Few assignments in criminal and private investigations are as dangerous and challenging as undercover work. The key to success in undercover work is preparation, mindset, and forseeing traps of circumstance. Even a simple mistake in one of these three key areas can turn the most successful operation into a disaster. In this two-hour distance learning program, former undercover operative Sam Hall presents practical real-world advice on planning and executing undercover investigations based on his years of experience as an undercover FBI cut-out and work with the CIA.

IN201-DL
$59.00 Introduction to Handwriting Analysis Handwriting Analysis ("Graphology") can expose many traits and characteristics that make up the personality of a writer. This insightful distance learning program is designed to provide security and public safety professionals with a foundation for understanding graphology. Through multimedia, case studies and hands-on analysis of actual writings, participants in this program will learn how to spot loyalty, trustworthiness, and initiative as well as signs of addiction, abuse, stress, and much more.

IN202-DL
$149.00 Covert Surveillance for Private Investigators In the S2 Covert Surveillance for Private Investigators course, veteran PI Ron Azarello and S2 Staff Instructor Craig Gundry survey the strategies, tactics, and technology available for use in conducting surveillance operations in private investigations. Although the core of this course is focused on surveillance technique and technology, considerable attention is also devoted to important parallel topics such as legal issues, teamwork, report writing, and more.

IN301-DL
$69.00 Florida Statutes for Private Investigators In the State of Florida, an individual seeking licensure as a private investigator must possess a minimum of two years of full-time investigations experience (or 4000 documented hours*) in addition to successful completion of a 100 question examination on Florida State Statutes influencing the business practices of the private investigations industry. The three-hour Florida Statutes for Private Investigators course is designed to provide experienced license applicants with a detailed survey of Florida Chapter 493 and other Florida State laws influencing licensing and business practices of private investigators.

IN302-DL
$49.00 Ethics and Private Investigations In this two-hour distance learning course, veteran private investigator Rory McMahon discusses the ethical dimensions of private investigations and provides advice for establishing good ethical practices in business and professional activities.

LE211-DL
$179.00 Human Trafficking Investigation According to authorities, between 600,000 and 800,000 people are trafficked each year between nations against their will for purposes of sexual exploitation or slave labor. This estimate doesn’t include the millions of others trafficked within their own countries. Despite its international nature, human trafficking is not just a problem for Interpol and federal level law enforcement, but local agencies as well. Victims of human trafficking can be encountered almost anywhere in the world, from child armies in West Africa to massage parlors in small town America. In this five-hour online program, criminologist Tony Attanasio explores the problem of contemporary human trafficking, legal aspects of human trafficking, working with victims, and unique considerations for investigation of human trafficking activities.

Add "Practical Methods for Legal Investigations" to your library!

One of the best selling investigative books available and a valuable resource addition to every investigator's library!

The legal investigator provides checks and balances to ensure that no evidence is being forced upon a theory, and that no theory is being forced upon the evidence. Practical Methods for Legal Investigations: Concepts and Protocols in Civil and Criminal Cases presents legal investigators with a step-by-step process that reveals how to methodically find and report evidence in every aspect of the investigative process.

Dean’s Investigative Protocol is designed to find the facts that prove or disprove criminal charges, civil allegations, or elements thereof. The book includes case studies that clearly detail how the process of the Investigative Protocol applies to every assignment of the case and to the case as a whole. Comprehensive and methodical, the system provides a map to the truth.


www.PracticalMethodsForLegalInvestigations.com and save 20% with this discount code - 083MA

This is the promotional video that we filmed at Mount Rushmore for Dean's book.  We thought it was the right place! 

'Practical Methods for Legal Investigations: Concepts and Protocols in Civil and Criminal Cases'

Ethics for the Professional Investigator and Attorney Relationship

http://ethics.PrivateInvestigations.org

One of the most common mistakes a professional investigator makes is understanding that the attorney-PI relationship is an attorney-agent relationship, and all actions by the PI are governed by the same ethics as the attorney.

Its here, its online and its FREE! I finally put together a few common ethical concerns for private investigators. Ethics are important, so important that I am sharing this eBook FREE. No catches, no gimmicks...just go download for your specific reader.

The value and importance of our professional ethics cannot be overstated. Ethics are often seen as morals, they are not, though one will impact the other. Morals are behavioral guides that are personal and individualistic. Ethics are rules of behavior for an individual through a group – such as an association or profession.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.  Other books and resources are at www.PrivateInvestigations.org

Tools and Resources for Professional Investigators

Be sure and visit the NEW www.PrivateInvestigations.org ~ Tools and Resources for Private Investigators!
Here we hope to bring you resources that have been used by our agency, other agencies and yourself -- they are proven successful and presented here to contribute to your own success.
- Education, training and skill development
- Books and resources
- Business tools and resources
- Professional vanity email and subdomains using You @ PrivateInvestigations.org and http:// you.PrivateInvestigations.org

Take a look around and visit regularly -- this site will grow as our profession's needs grow. Your suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

Learn and Investigate Basic Death Cases!

www.MedicolegalDeathInvestigations.com for details and registration.

Includes the Ethics program for FREE ($25 value)!

This continuing education based death investigation course is a basic introduction into the concepts of the official investigation of death, such as by a coroner or medical examiner office, and the role that the private investigator may play in an equivocal death investigation. As might be expected, there are similar roles, overlapping roles and, of course different roles and responsibilities.  Although developed for continuing education, the concepts and methodology are suitable for any private or government sector investigator looking to expand their investigative knowledge into the basics of death investigation, and even personal injury investigations and injury causation.

This course is designed to provide the investigator currently working in, or interested in working in, the death and personal injury investigation fields the knowledge and insight to informatively and intelligently conduct a criminal defense or civil investigation in which serious bodily injury or death is the subject matter of the litigation.

This course is approved for 14 hours of instruction for Certified Legal Investigators (CLIs) and PIs in TX, OK, and IA; 12 hours in GA, TN and KY; 8 hours in LA and KS; 10 hours in OR and SC; 6 hours in NC; 4 hours in NM. An exam will be administered upon the conclusion of the program. If the candidate passes with a score of 75% or better, a certificate of completion will be issued in accordance with state licensing authority standards.

* This course may qualify for other private, government and association CE credit - please contact the oversight authority.

Developed for PI Education by Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI and Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI
Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
Providing expert consultations of death and injury causation to investigators, attorneys, insurance companies and families

One of the earlier articles for our friends at PursuitMag.com
http://pursuitmag.com/the-role-of-the-private-investigator-in-equivocal-death-investigations/
The Role of the Private Investigator in Equivocal Death Investigations.
AFI-LLC is here to help our colleagues with there cases, here is how you can integrate these into your own agency.