PRIVATE DETECTIVES IN SACRAMENTO

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What private detectives are not: While many private detectives are former law enforcement, licensed private detectives are NOT cops. They possess no special powers of arrest and cannot access law enforcement databases or protected police files (even if they are former police). The skill of a professional private detective to obtain information legally, easily obtained by police, is in the real working knowledge of the legal system and public records. While private detectives use databases that are more reliable and accurate than internet information sites, knowledge and skill makes a real private detective not insider access. 

What a private detective is: This depends on the task, but generally a private detective is a researcher, interviewer, evidence collector, and technician. Frequently the private detective is a professional witness with the skill to gather video, photographic or other evidence to support their observations. Imagine custody matters, infidelity, and insurance fraud cases. Anything involving surveillance.  

Beware of badges: Private detectives in California do not have badges and are forbidden to use them as identification. They have state issued licenses which they should have laminated with a photo and should be prepared to present upon demand. 

Firearms: Very specific requirements by state and local agencies govern the carrying of concealed weapons by private detectives. Some private detectives who are authorized and properly insured may carry a firearm. 

Hiring the right private detective: It's critical to make an educated decision about who to hire. Finding the right private detective in Sacramento is more than looking at slick packaging or pictures of big offices. Some very good private detectives work only on special projects and do so from home offices. These can be retired police officers, lawyers, or licensed individuals who have just chosen a traditional detective's lifestyle. 

At the same time, some very bad, dishonest, and unskilled private detectives have the money to put on a show while doing nothing but taking your money. If you're lucky it will be just the loss of money, and not the destruction of your case, reputation, or embroil you in a lengthy lawsuit. You may be sued for the actions of your private detective or their operatives. Recording conversations illegally or video recording people in certain private spaces for example.

Like many professions, there are good and bad private detectives. Like auto mechanics, you expect a skilled and honest one, but you often don't know you've been taken for a ride until you're paying more money to someone else to fix what the first guy broke. Don't make a decision you'll regret.

Licensed: The private detective you hire in Sacramento, or anywhere else for that matter, should be licensed, in good standing with the state. In California, licenses are verified through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS). You are encouraged to verify licenses through the BSIS website. Search by business name, owners name or license number.

Insured: The private detective you hire in Sacramento should have quality, active, errors and omissions insurance. This protects the detective and the client. Even the best private detectives can make mistakes. Hiring a reputable, professional, licensed and insured private detective makes it unlikely. 

The private detective you want: You want to hire someone you can have confidence in taking into account what you've already read here, but hire someone with whom you have a good rapport and you trust their approach. They need not have an office, it's not unusual. But all meetings should be conducted in safe spaces and even then, only after verifying the legitimacy and status of the private detective. 

Local: With the internet the way it is, BIG MONEY, is spent by unlicensed companies that fake local presence while being located in places like Florida. They offer cut rates and use quasi-local, often underpaid. substandard detectives akin to Uber-for-detectives. You may never talk to that person personally and you'll be back to taking a ride. 800 numbers, fancy websites, and call centers, are not typical of real local private detectives in Sacramento. Chances are, when you hire a Sacramento private detective you'll be meeting with the owner and operator of the business. You want to be certain he person who is actually working on your case knows the goal(s) of the investigation.

When it comes to private detectives in Sacramento, YELP and GOOGLE reviews are mostly unreliable. Mostly, because some may be legitimate and useful others are not. Generally people who hire private investigators are not eager to share their stories with the world. Sometimes, dissatisfied clients with unreasonable expectations take the time to make the feelings known comments. Those aren't the problem, the positive reviews can be the most deceptive. Overly glowing reviews, often dozens more than similar businesses is a sure sign something is fishy. Reviewers may be paid fakes as part of a strategy to fool people. This is a huge red flag that should be in the "too good to be true" category.

What else to expect:

• Retainers: Most private cases require some or all funds in advance. But make no transactions without a paper trail. This is usually not the case for established clients and law offices.

• Contracts: Very few cases should be handled without a services contract. This protects the detective and the client. It insures that unused portions of retainers are refunded if necessary or simply returned all together if no work has been completed. Which sometimes happens if a situation changes and the client cancels. 

• Be open and honest about what you want: If you hire a private detective under pretense by suggesting one goal while hiding your real intentions, you will likely eventually lose your detective, and forfeit your retainer. You may choose to speak generally in nature at first, but when it comes down to contracts and retainers make sure you've set a clear goal. Did you hire a previous PI? Say so. You don't have to say who, but it could have serious ramifications on the investigation.