A New Jersey Private Investigator, just as in other states, is able to perform a wide range of investigations depending on the needs of the client. What follows are examples of common types of investigations conducted by private investigators in New Jersey:

Surveillance: A staple of a New Jersey Private Investigator’s work is conducting surveillance in order to gather information and evidence for various purposes, such as infidelity investigations, litigation support, or tracking a person’s activities and behavior.

Cowan Investigations - Senica Security and Investigations

The author Bob Cowan is the owner of Cowan Investigations and former Chief of the Jersey City Police Department

A surveillance by a private investigator refers to the act of covertly monitoring and observing people, places, or activities with the intention of obtaining information or evidence for investigative purposes. Private investigators, also known as private detectives, use surveillance techniques to obtain valuable and relevant information that may not be readily accessible through other means.

Surveillance by a private investigator often involves discreetly tracking the movements, activities, and interactions of the subject by using assorted methods such as stakeouts, video recording and photography of people, places and things. Private investigators may engage in a combination of physical surveillance, electronic concealed camera surveillance, and online monitoring in order to gather evidence in regard to the objectives of the investigation.

Mobile or moving surveillances are one of the more common types of surveillance a New Jersey Private Investigator will be part of. Vehicle and pedestrian surveillances are also one of the most complicated forms of surveillances. During my thirty-five years in law enforcement and seven years as an owner of a private investigation firm I have found that one of the most important elements a competent investigator can include in his/her investigation plan is the proper staffing of the surveillance. Simply put, it is imperative that the lead private investigator have enough personnel assigned to the investigation in order to proceed safely, covertly while at the same time reaching the investigative objectives. There is so much to cover in the performing of these types of investigations that the topic is due its own article.
The primary objective of a New Jersey private investigator’s surveillance is documenting and recording the subject’s actions, behaviors, interactions with people, and any other pertinent details that may be useful in attaining the objectives of the investigation.

It is important to note that New Jersey Private Investigators must be guided by legal and ethical guidelines while conducting their investigation. New Jersey Private Detectives should acquire proper authorization when required, respect privacy laws, and maintain above all private investigators should maintain confidentiality in treatment the information collected during the surveillance process.

Background Investigations: New Jersey Private investigators may conduct all-inclusive background checks on individuals or businesses for a multitude of purposes. Background Investigations may include verifying personal information, obtaining employment history, searching criminal records, inquiries into a person’s financial status through Asset Searches in compliance with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLB) of 1999.

The following are types of background investigations which may very often be in support of a larger investigation.

Asset searches: New Jersey Private investigators will often conduct background investigations in order to uncover and assess the assets and financial standing of individuals or businesses that the client may be involved with in a legal dispute, debt retrieval, or divorce cases. It is important to note, the client wishing to have an asset search on an individual must have a valid financial interest in conducting such an investigation. As previously written, any financial inquiry must be in compliance with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLB) of 1999.

Pre-employment screening: Employers often retain private investigators in order to conduct background investigations on applicants for open positions. This type of screening often involves confirming educational credentials, employment history, the existence of or absence of criminal records, references, and any other applicable information in order to evaluate a candidate’s suitability for an open position. However, it is necessary by law that the employee be aware of any background checks and must sign off on same prior to the conducting of a background search. In addition, if an employer decides to make an adverse employment decision with respect to the applicant based on information obtained in a background inquiry, the employer must bring the information to the attention of the applicant. This is so in order to provide an opportunity for the applicant to rebut the information.

Due diligence investigations: Private detectives are also retained by businesses or individuals to conduct what are known in the industry as due diligence investigations prior to entering into partnerships, business transactions, or investment opportunities. These investigations aim to assess the reputation, financial strength, legal past, as well as other material factors of a business or person to ensure informed decisions with respect to entering into a relationship.

Personal background checks: Private will often perform personal background investigations on individuals for various reasons, such as for screening prior to a marriage commitment, also obtaining information on a person they are in a personal relationship with, or confirming the background of individuals involved in legal matters such as child custody issues alimony/cohabitation matters, infidelity matters or potential witnesses in civil or criminal matters. This is not an exclusive list

Tenant screening: Property owners and landlords and/or property management companies often retain private detectives in order to conduct background investigations on prospective tenants or purchases of property. These background investigations may involve confirming the identities, corroborating past rental histories, current and pat employment status as well conducting “credit inquires” to assess a tenant’s reliability and potential risk. Of note, a prospective tenant must consent to a credit history investigation prior to one being conducted, and just as in an employment situation, the prospective tenant must be afforded the opportunity to rebut any negative returns on the credit report.

Insurance fraud investigations: Private investigators are often contracted by insurance firms in order to examine suspicious claims, or just as a matter of due diligence prior to entering into a settlement with a litigant. Background investigations will often involve scrutinizing plaintiffs’ backgrounds, financial activities, medical histories as well as past prior claims of injuries. Currently, insurance companies have a very good litigation cross referencing available in where they have a litigant’s past history of filing law suits and their past claimed injuries at their fingertips.

Locating missing persons: Private detectives may often be retained in order to locate missing individuals. Background investigations in these cases often involve assembling material about the missing person’s personal history, past and current relationships, past and current employment, financial records, as well as all other details that can assist in the locating of a missing persons whereabouts. It is important that a private investigator be upfront, ethical and fair with a potential client, the private investigator should insist that the potential client first report the party missing with a law enforcement agency. It is necessary that a law enforcement agency also begins a missing person investigation by generating an investigation report. This missing person report will in turn cause entry of information into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) missing person system. The entry of the information will generate a general alarm number which can be used to assist in the locating of the missing person as well as being entered int o the National Unidentified Person System which will aid in the identification of unidentified deceased individuals.

Infidelity investigations: New Jersey Private Investigators are quite frequently retained in order to investigate suspected cases of infidelity. These investigations are highly emotional for the person being victimized by a cheating spouse. In addition, since I have been involved in private investigations, I also make note that these cases are also fast pace; meaning the cases, if properly investigated could reach its conclusion rapidly, most often in several day or a couple of weeks.
The solve rates for these investigations have been rather high, at least at my New Jersey Private Investigator Firm.

Each and every infidelity case is different, it is common that a New Jersey Private Investigator’s approach will vary depending on the particular circumstances and client’s wishes, to some extent. A professional New Jersey Private Investigator private investigator will rely on their knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) of laws to specific to jurisdiction in order to conduct the most exhaustive and impartial investigation while at the same time maintaining confidentiality.

A New Jersey Private Investigator will follow a common framework of steps in handling an infidelity investigation:

Initial Consultation in an Infidelity Investigation: The New Jersey Private Investigator Firm will provide an initial consultation regarding the cheating spouse investigation. It is important for the private detective to “LISTEN CLOSELY” to the client, only stopping to ask for clarifications. When gathering the intake information regarding a client’s suspicions and any factual evidence or leads the client may have. The proper handling of an initial consultation will assist the New Jersey Private detective understand the case and the explicit objectives the client wishes to achieve. The initial consultation is often critical in a successful investigation which reaches its objectives, and if the private investigator listen costs are often able to be reduced.

Assembling of information in an Infidelity Investigation: The New Jersey Private Detective should be gathering all pertinent information about the individuals involved to include their personal and details of their employment, schedules as well as any known routines and/or patterns. Being armed with this information assists the private detective in the planning and conducting of all surveillances successfully.

Surveillance planning in an Infidelity Investigation: Based on the intake information acquired from the client, the New Jersey Private Investigator must devise a surveillance plan which is customized to the particular circumstances of the cheating spouse investigation. The surveillance plan should include defining the most advantageous times and locations in order to conduct surveillance. If mobile vehicle and or foot surveillance will be involved it is imperative that two private detectives are assigned to the Infidelity Investigation.

Physical surveillance in an Infidelity Investigation: The investigator would carry out discreet surveillance of the subject, using techniques such as stakeouts, vehicle tracking, and following the subject’s movements. They would document any suspicious activities, interactions, or evidence of infidelity using methods like video recording, photography, or audio recording, while ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations.

Internet investigation in an Infidelity Investigation: Even if a private investigator’s expertise is not the internet, the private detective may conduct preliminary online investigations in order to assemble additional information. Some of the information on social media can be critical to a case. By way of example, one-time while trying to determine the location of a person we were looking for, he had posted a photograph of himself sitting the hood of a, the entire license plate was in view; he was traced to a rural area in Pennsylvania.

Evidence collection in an Infidelity Investigation: During the Cheating Spouse Investigation, the New Jersey Private Detective would carefully gather and record any evidence which is related to the potential infidelity. This documentation will very often include photographs, time and date stamped videos, recorded conversations (only if all legal standards are met), digital communication records.

Reporting and documentation in an Infidelity Investigation: At the completion of a cheating spouse investigation a New Jersey Private Detective should correlate all the information the private investigator had assembled. The investigator should compile the evidence obtained into a concise investigation report, photographs should be placed INSIDE the report; many private detectives do not have the skills to do a proper report. The completed investigation report should present a well-defined and objective explanation of the investigation’s conclusions. The investigation report should include any and all information related to evidence of infidelity or lack thereof.

Litigation Support: New Jersey Private Investigators very often work closely with attorneys in order to gather evidence for civil and criminal cases. Private detective’s duties include but are not limited to the conducting of witness interviews, locating and interviewing potential witnesses, and the providing of other assistance with trial preparation.

Below, I have included are some common examples of Litigation Support in which New Jersey Private Investigators are able to assist attorneys in legal matters:

Witness locating and interviews of witnesses and the lawyer’s clients for litigation support: Private investigators are often retained by attorneys in order to locate and interview witnesses that may be relevant to a case. Private detectives use their investigative skills and resources in order to track down people who may have critical information. Private detectives will conduct interviews and gather statements of witnesses, of vital importance is that the private detective is able to determine which potential witnesses should not have statements taken from them. The private investigator must be able to clearly document their findings for future use in court proceedings.

Although, it is legal to record conversations in New Jersey so long as at least one of parties are part of the conversation, it is critically important that the New Jersey Private Investigator understands the limitations. A. The private investigator can audio record an interview with any witness, he/she has no responsibility to inform the witness that they are being recorded. B. If you conduct a telephone interview of a witness it is important even through trickery that the private investigator get the witness to confirm that they are in New Jersey or another one party consent state.

Evidence collection and preservation of that evidence for litigation support: Some New Jersey Private Investigators are proficient at collecting and properly preserving evidence that may be material to an attorney’s case; However, many private detectives are not and should be scrupulously avoided. New Jersey Private Detectives will often gather physical evidence pursuant to an investigation. The evidence to be gathered comes in various forms, such as photographs, videos and documents. It may often be necessary for the private investigator arrange to have forensic analysis conducted by an expert.

Background investigations for litigation support: It is almost a given, that when a New Jersey Private Investigator works for an attorney, background work will be required. It is essential, that any private detective working for an attorney possesses in house background investigation capabilities. You can take it to the bank, any private detective retained by a law firm will be conducting thorough background investigations on persons involved in a case, including the opposing parties, witnesses, or even the plaintiff or defendant. New Jersey Private Detectives who possess the best Background Investigation Platforms will do well when working with attorneys. Often, background investigations will reveal critical information about a person’s past, integrity, character, and any other material information that may impact the litigation’s outcome.

Surveillance for Litigation Support: In certain cases, attorneys might require surveillance investigations in order to to collect evidence or observe the actions and/or interactions of individuals. New Jersey Private Detectives often are retained to conduct discreet surveillance so as to document the activities, movements, and interactions between individuals. Under the right circumstances, discreet surveillance will provide attorneys with valuable evidence for use in legal proceedings.

Asset searches for Litigation Support: New Jersey Private Detectives very often assist law firms in locating and analyzing the assets of individuals or businesses that are involved in civil litigation. Private detectives are often able to uncover hidden assets, track down financial transactions, as well as providing a comprehensive report on the litigant’s financial status. Financial information is often critical in matters such as divorce matters, debt recovery, or recovery and location of assets after financial settlements.

Expert witness preparation for Litigation Support: New Jersey Private Investigators will often collaborate with law firms in preparing expert witnesses for trial. Private detectives can assist in the gathering of supporting evidence, conducting of background research on opposing expert witnesses, and assist in the development of strategies to effectively present the expert’s testimony.

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