1. AN INTRODUCTION TO PRIVATE INVESTIGATION

Introduction to private investigation
What is a private investigator
Private investigation as a career
The profession of a private investigator
The code of ethics

2. WHAT PI’S DO - PART 1

Introduction to investigative theory
Investigative methodology
Principles of investigative methodology

3. WHAT PI’S DO – PART 2

Introduction
The basic identifiers
Locating sources of information
Public records and semi restricted records
Public records Semi-restricted records

4. INTERVIEWING AND INTERROGATION

The basic principles of interviewing
Preparation
First contact with your interviewee
Your interview objectives
The interviewee’s attitude
The different types of interview
The art of questioning
Suggestions and tips
Dealing with deceptive responses
Client interviews
Third party interviews
Witness interviews
Expert interviews
Interrogation

5. NOTE TAKING AND REPORT WRITING

Note taking
Note taking guidelines and suggestions
Written statements
Report writing
Guidelines for good report writing

6. USING PRETEXTS

Illegal pretexts
Ask an expert
When a pretext can be used
The guidelines for using pretexts

7. INSURANCE INVESTIGATIONS

Insurance investigations
Fraudulent disability investigations
Motor vehicle accident investigations
Premise accidents investigations
Railroad crossing investigations
Suicide investigations
Accident reconstruction experts and basics
Fires and explosions
Forensic photography

8. CIVIL INVESTIGATIONS

A definition of civil law
Defenses against tort actions
An introduction to civil investigations
Liquor liability investigations
Professional malpractice investigations
Product liability investigations

9. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

The general principles of criminal investigation
The burden of proof
Criminal defence investigations
The fundamental principles of evidence
Presumptions and the burden of proof
Evidence preservation and forensics
Undercover investigations

10. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS

Assets background checks
Business partners background checks
Pre - employment background checks
Mate checks
Self defence background checks
Witnesses and jury background checks

11. FINDING MISSING PERSONS

The types of missing persons
The preliminary interview with your client
Finding young missing persons
Finding indigent and homeless missing persons
Finding other types of missing persons

12. COMMERCIAL THEFT INVESTIGATIONS

Retail theft investigations
The general principles of retail theft investigations
Classification of shoplifters
Recognizing a shoplifter
The methods of shoplifting
How to prevent shoplifting
The types of employee theft

13. DOMESTIC INVESTIGATIONS AND COURT TESTIMONY

Domestic investigations
Child custody investigations
Fidelity investigations
Court testimony

14. SURVEILLANCE

General surveillance principles
Surveillance by foot
A team approach to surveillance by foot
Fixed surveillance
Common carrier surveillance
Vehicle surveillance
Single vehicle surveillance
Moving surveillance
Tips for better surveillance
Surveillance at night
Two vehicle surveillance
Video surveillance

15. SETTING UP YOUR BUSINESS

Types of business
Location
Investigative equipment
Business plan
Credit applications
Alternate financial resources
Estimating start up costs
Business operations and accounting
Business bank account
Hourly rate and investigative fees
Insurance requirements and bonding
Naming your company
Employees

16. MARKETING

Strategic marketing planning
Advertising and promotion
Personal selling
Tips for print media
Your potential market

Read more: What you'll find in the pack