For the Defense - Vol. 4, Issue 2 - 31

Pennsylvania Association of Licensed Investigators
(PALI). Through the association's website, you
can search on its "Find Member" tab. Then
refine your search by key words, company,
last name, specialty, city, county, metropolitan
area, state or zip code. There are also many
different national associations which can assist
in finding qualified private detectives including
the Council for International Investigators,
Intellenet, the National Association of Legal
Investigators, and the World Association of
Detectives. Each national association of licensed
investigators has its own requirements to become
a member. For example, Intellenet requires ten
years investigative experience. To put that in
perspective, Pennsylvania requires three years of
experience to become licensed and New Jersey
requires five years.

Third, Vouch for Me
Criminal defense clients are often suspicious
and distrustful. When you retain an investigator,
make sure that your client and his family
understands that an investigator is on the
defense team. Much time has been lost by
investigators who need to convince criminal
defendants that they have been hired by the
defense before defendants or defense-favorable
witnesses are willing to cooperate. Counsel
the defendant to be honest and open with the
defense investigator.

Fourth, Understand My Method
As a Board-Certified Criminal Defense
Investigator,4 I recommend that investigators,
when given the investigative opportunity, follow
the Component Method.5 The six components of
criminal defense investigation as defined by the
Component Method are as follows and will be
explained in more detail below:
* Investigative Case Review and Analysis
* The Defendant Interview
* Crime Scene Examination, Diagrams and
Photography
* Victim and Witness Background
Investigations
* Witness Interviews and Statements
* Report of Investigation and Testifying

Keep these six investigative principles and
the promised descriptions of each in mind when
working with your investigator.
Investigative Case Review and Analysis
Investigators should conduct a detailed
review and analysis of all police reports, witness
statements, affidavits, subpoenas and any and all
documents associated with the investigation. Every
page and every sentence should be scrutinized
for anything that the investigator finds to dispute
and impeach the statement or document based
on factual evidence. Law Enforcement, although
respected and appreciated, are not infallible. Due
to their large caseloads, some police detectives
sometimes cut corners. In the initial review and
analysis, your investigator may identify other
witnesses who were not interviewed by law
enforcement. During the review and analysis phase,
your investigator should also create a timeline of
events and facts.
The Defendant Interview
A thorough and complete interview should be
conducted with the defendant (client) as soon as
possible. I have been involved in investigations in
which the defendant was not interviewed until 18
months later! The delay can adversely impact the
defense because a defendant can often provide key
information to help with his defense. I have spoken
with defendant/clients on numerous occasions, even
after the initial interview, which allows for a more
open and honest exchange of information.
Crime Scene Examination, Diagrams and
Photography
Investigators should visit the crime scene as soon
possible. This is often overlooked, but important for
the Investigator to do, regardless of how much time
has passed. The crime scene examination should
include video, photographs and diagrams. The
investigator needs to be extremely detailed during
this inspection and leave no stones unturned.
Expert witnesses such as blood splatter experts,
forensics, ballistics, etc. may also be needed. A
seasoned professional investigator usually has
worked with these experts in the past and if not,
the investigator's peers and contacts can assist in
locating the expert that is needed.

Vol. 4, Issue 2

l

For The Defense

31
http://www.pali.org/ http://www.Intellenet.org
For the Defense - Vol. 4, Issue 2

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of For the Defense - Vol. 4, Issue 2
