Case And Testimony Presentation

Question 1

The two types of reports?

Answer 1

Incident based investigation

Accident based investigation

Question 2

A good private investigation report contains:

Answer 2

Clear concise facts and findings that beneficial to the client

Question 3

A good private investigation report should NOT contain what?

Answer 3

Speculation

If it contains third party or unverified information it should indicate that.

Question 4

You should include photos when?

Answer 4

Whenever possible

Question 5

An incident based report is an occurrence from an?

Answer 5

Intentional act

Question 6

An accident based report report is a result of?

Answer 6

Something that happens by chance

Question 7

What is the investigators job in both incident and accident based case?

Answer 7

Interview witnesses
Take scene photos
Make scene diagrams
Obtain police reports
Confer with lawyers and police
Speak with clients

Question 8

What is a private investigators first priority?

Answer 8

The welfare and satisfaction of the client.

The PI must work to the clients benefit. All laws should be observed when performing investigations, otherwise, the investigator does the client a disservice and opens the PI business to negative civil litigation

Question 9

What is the difference between and incident and an accident?

Answer 9

An incident is intentional and an accident is unintentional. Many people confuse the two different terms. The word incident is commonly used when the word accident would be technically correct

Question 10

What type of report best describes a surveillance report?

Answer 10

A chronological report. The surveillance report is laid out to confirm to the flow of time within a few hours. The report progresses as the observations of the investigator are recorded in concert with forward time.

Question 11

Which section of a final report should be considered the most important?

Answer 11

The executive summary. A professional client with many cases to review will appreciate the succinctness of a well written executive summary. The client will know how to deal with his or her car in Less time due to the detailed yet brief executive summary at the start of the report.

Question 12

What is one reason why witness preparation before a trial is important?

Answer 12

The investigator will know what the witness will say and inform the lawyer. The private investigator is a transmitter of facts. The information that the investigator has received from the witness must be submitted to the lawyer on the case.

Question 13

Entrapment is a term used when law enforcement does?

Answer 13

Compels a person to act illegally when the person would not ordinarily act illegally. In common parlance, entrapment is to frame or set up a person in order for law enforcement to obtain a prosecution and/or conviction.

Question 14

What does the term “Modus Operandi” refer to?

Answer 14

The method of operation or the way a person or group does something. MO is a Latin term for method of operation. An MO is a useful tool for tracking and apprehending repeat offenders.

Question 15

What are the best terms to adhere to when taking investigation notes?

Answer 15

Who
What
When
Where 
Why
How

Question 16

Which description best represents the meaning of Bright Line Standards

Answer 16

When a single factor determines the criteria in a legal decision or an arrest. Some legal cases hinge on many factors, but some cases have just one factor that is reason for the legal issue.

Question 17

What are the three types of evidence admissible in court?

Answer 17

Testimony of a witness, documentary evidence, and physical evidence.

A very basic understanding of the law will demonstrate that these three basic requirements are the foundations for evidence at a trial

Question 18

Which sentence best describes indictment and arraignment?

Answer 18

A determination of charges is made in the indictment phase and then the charges are read to the accused in the arraignment phase of a court process

Grand juries often convened in secret and working with the district attorney are tasked with determining if there should be a charge and what the charge should be. Then an arraignment court hearing is held to voice charges to the accused.

Question 19

How should a private investigator dress for court?

Answer 19

A suit and tie because it shows a professional manner.

The private investigator should be in court for professional reasons only. Business attire such as a suit and tie is expected by the judge and jury and lends credibility to the private investigators image

Question 20

What would be the best way for a PI to impeach a witness?

Answer 20

The Investigator produces a signed statement that contains information that is contradictory to what the witness is presently claiming.

If the investigation was savvy enough to obtain the witness’s statement on a signed paper, audio tape, or video tape with audio, it would be difficult for the witness to be convincing or change what he had originally told the investigator

Question 21

What is the best feature of the PI report for a PI?

Answer 21

The marketing potential of a great report so the client will freely give a good reference to friends and will want to use the PI again. A good report is like advertising. The better the report, the greater the advertising potential.

Question 22

When can former testimony be accepted as evidence?

Answer 22

The court can accept former testimony that was given in a formal legal proceeding if the witness is not available for court. An example of formal testimony would be if a process server who was served a summons passed away. The affidavit of service submitted at a previous hearing could be submitted into evidence at a subsequent court hearing, after the process servers death.