Understanding the Law
Laws applicable to investigative work are widely disparate. This section is concerned with basic laws to which law enforcement officers must adhere. Some don't apply directly to your work as a private investigator, though many will, but knowing them will mark you as a serious investigator. It will separate you from the PI on the street and garner respect from both the public and the law enforcement community.
Overview
Cornell University Law School publishes a listing of links to state laws and statutes. This includes links to federal and state constitutions, statutes and codes, as well as bills, hearings, reports, and related information.
It's connected with the Legal Information Institute, which provides access to numerous court opinions, directories, publications, and topics for research. Use the Cornell site as a reference when you need to research a particular law or when you want to brush up on general legal knowledge.
You don't need to be an attorney or police officer to be a good private investigator, but you do need to know something about the laws that govern law enforcement, as well as laws that apply to your profession. You must also know where your responsibility ends and law enforcement authority begins. Never allow anyone to think you are a law enforcement officer. Impersonating an officer is a criminal offense.
An individual client or attorney will often hire a PI to investigate; in some cases, this necessitates the search of a crime scene. The crime scene is law enforcement's domain, and officers don't appreciate hotshot PIs interfering with their work — so don't. Act within your responsibilities and restrictions and you may develop respectful working relationships with officers.
Understanding the law is key to providing the best private investigation services you can.
