 Mystery: May 05, 2021 Issue [#10750] |
This week: Private eyes are watching you Edited by: Arakun the twisted raccoon  
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Quote for the week: "Every man at the bottom of his heart believes that he is a born detective."
John Buchan |
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Private detectives are popular characters in crime fiction, TV shows, and movies. A private detective might be the best type of investigator to include in your story if it involves a case the police would not normally investigate.
Private investigators are often employed by defense attorneys to help gather evidence to defend their clients. Perry Mason would not have won all those cases without the help of his investigator, Paul Drake. They might also be hired by members of the public to investigate cold cases the police have not been able to solve or cases the police do not take seriously. Shaye Archer, the main character of a series by Jana DeLeon is independently wealthy, so she is able to assist clients who are unable to pay. In one story, her client was a street kid who was worried about a friend who had disappeared. Police assumed the missing street kid had just run away again, and Shaye was the only person willing to help.
Private detectives gather evidence to be used in civil cases, do background checks, gather evidence of infidelity to be used in divorce cases, investigate allegations of insurance fraud, and may be hired by family or friends of missing persons to help find them.
Private investigators usually have some law enforcement, legal, or military background. They may have taken college courses in law or criminal justice. Computer skills are also necessary, since much investigative work is conducted online.
The requirements to become a licensed private investigator may differ based on the country or state where your characters live. The requirements in the US state where I live are as follows:
Have a high school diploma or a GED certificate
Be at least 18 years old
Have not been found guilty or convicted of any of the following (including as a juvenile):
Felony
Misdemeanor (Class A or B) involving violence, intimidation, or controlled substances
Theft, including shoplifting
Be free of a mental defect or condition that would impair their ability to professionally and competently provide services
Have not committed an act indicating bad moral character
Licensed private investigators in this state also have to pass a written exam and must have completed at least 2000 hours of investigative work, either as a law enforcement officer or as an intern under the supervision of a licensed investigator. Armed private investigators must also complete firearms training and testing equal to that taken by police officers.
Make sure that your characters fulfill the requirements of the area where your story is set, or explain why they do not.
In spite of the actions of many TV and movie detectives, private investigators must follow the law when conducting their investigations, or risk being arrested and prosecuted. If a detective breaks in to someone's home, for example, they can be prosecuted as any member of the public would. If they are gathering information for a court case, any evidence obtained by unlawful entry will not be admissible in court.
A few well known fictional detectives are not licensed, but they are not ordinary detectives. Cal McGill of Mark Douglas-Home's "Sea Detective" series is an oceanographer who is an expert on ocean currents and wind patterns over the seas. Because of his specialized knowledge he is able to determine the path of objects lost at sea, or where an object washed up on the shore is likely to have come from. He has investigated cases involving everything from lost treasure to dead bodies.
Another unusual unlicensed detective is Travis McGee, the protagonist of 21 novels written by John D. MacDonald. McGee describes himself as a "salvage consultant" who recovers lost property for his clients and keeps half the value for himself. Occasionally, McGee operates outside the law, when helping clients deal with dangerous criminals who do not follow the law themselves. If your detective operates outside the law, make sure and give them a good reason for doing so.
Something to try: Write a mystery story where the main character is a licensed private investigator.
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