When people hear private investigators and detectives, they often think they are the same thing, which is uncovering secrets, gathering information, interpreting clues, and solving mysteries. The real world faces various personal or corporate-level disputes, but to deal with them, specialized entities play a crucial role. This is where the debate on Private investigator vs private detective is born.
Although the two seem similar, there are significant differences, especially when you consider where they are employed, the type of cases they investigate, and their authority. Taking into account your situation, the decision on hiring a detective or investigator requires information on what they individually serve. If you are seeking a professional to find the truth in a legal matter or personal matter, you must understand the difference between a private investigator and a detective to make the right choice.
Who Do We Call a Private Investigator?
A private investigator (PI) is an authorized practitioner who functions on an independent basis, or in connection with a private organization, to conduct investigations for private parties, businesses, or law firms. Typically, PIs are hired to obtain evidence for civil or criminal cases, validate background information, or locate missing persons.
Private investigators generally work for private individuals, and not the government, entailing, they may not have the same police powers as a peace officer; however, they do specialize in research, surveillance, and information-gathering efforts on behalf of the client, permissible by law.
Common tasks completed by PIs include:
- Performing background checks and due diligence efforts
- Investigating infidelity or child custody cases
- Obtaining evidence for legal cases
- Locating insurance and/or work-compensation fraud
- Finding missing persons or hidden property
At TM Investigations, all of our licensed private investigators are trained to service sensitive matters with discretion and professionalism, presenting accurate and court-admissible evidence to the client. So you can share your case with our team and we will perform our best to give you quality results within the promised time period.
Who Do We Call a Detective?
A detective is usually a law enforcement officer employed by a public agency, such as law enforcement. Detectives, unlike private investigators, have the authority to arrest (apprehend) individuals, obtain warrants for search or seizure of property or an arrest warrant, and have access to information that private investigators do not know of, such as criminal databases or police reports.
Detectives are responsible for the investigation or “solving” of all crimes, including theft, fraud, and murder, within the jurisdiction of their department or government agency.
A detective usually has the following responsibilities.
- Investigate criminal matters (e.g., robbery, assault, murder)
- Collecting and analyzing evidence at the crime scene
- Interviewing witnesses and suspects
- Cooperation with prosecutors and other legal authorities
- Detectives investigate everything criminal, while private investigators devote their practice to matters of civil and personal issues that the justice system does not handle.
Private Investigator vs Private Detective: Key Differences
Even though the fields of private investigators and detectives overlap in skill set, they operate in contrasting capacities, have different authorities, and work in different environments. Familiarity with the difference between the two will assist you in selecting a professional you wish to contact for your specific need.
1. Employment / Workplace
A private investigator (PI) may work on their own or through a private agency when assigned to a case. A private investigator is assigned to matters that require case-specific investigations, typically personal or corporate matters that require discreet fact-finding. A detective is an employee of a government agency and is normally in a police department or agency, and acts under the authority of the police. Detectives investigate crimes, develop suspect information, and assist prosecutions in the court system.
2. Authority and Legal Ability
One of the main differences between the two aforementioned careers is their legal authority. Detectives have the authority to make arrests, get warrants, and get access to databases that are not available to the public. Investigators have no such authority. A private investigator must work within the bounds of the law, using public records, surveillance, interviews, and research to develop his/her information. A private investigator cannot arrest someone, nor can they access a police department database. However, a licensed private investigator can develop evidence that would be legally admitted to prove a civil or criminal case.
3. Types of Case
The work of private investigators often relates to civil, noncriminal matters, such as looking into background checks, infidelity, child custody cases, insurance fraud, and missing persons. Private investigators may be retained by private companies to investigate employees and suspected misconduct or employee-related fraud. Detectives are responsible for investigating criminal cases (theft, assault, homicide, organized crime). Detectives investigate cases as part of the criminal justice system and can investigate cases that could lead to prosecution. So essentially, detectives investigate possible criminal law violations, and private investigators are hired to investigate and discover facts for private clients.
4. Jurisdiction and Scope
Detectives have the same jurisdictional limits — for instance, the city or county police detective can only operate in that city or county unless otherwise permitted. A private investigator can work in different regions or states, depending on the license they have and in compliance with the local rules. This allows the private investigators to handle cases across multiple locations or follow leads in other cities or states.
5. Focus and Intended Purpose
The focus of the detective is to solve cases, identify offenders, and obtain justice through the legal system. Investigations are conducted in a way that will assist prosecution in court. Private investigators, on the other hand, are client-focused – the express purpose of a private investigator is to provide factual, discreet, and actionable information about an individual, attorney, or business. Whether confirming someone’s suspicion, locating a missing person, or obtaining evidence in support of a legal issue, private investigators will gather information and evidence for an individual to use in making a life-changing decision.
6. Reporting and Evidence Handling
Detectives report to their boss and work directly with prosecutors and other law enforcement. Their reports are entered as evidence into the criminal justice process. Private investigators provide reports detailing their observations for the client or attorney, often with surveillance photographs or video, and documentation of events or facts that can be submitted into civil or criminal court if necessary.
When to Hire a Private Investigator?
Although detectives can work in legal investigations, private investigators will offer you a wide range of confidential and flexible services for personal or corporate matters. You could consider hiring a private investigator if you require:
- Proof of evidence related to legal matters such as divorce, infidelity, or child custody.
- Background check before hiring an employee or starting a partnership.
- Fraud assistance for valid insurance claims or workers’ compensation claims.
- Locating a missing person for personal or business reasons, tracing missing assets, or financial information.
A private investigator who is licensed through TM investigations will work with attorneys, businesses, or individuals to provide verified information that can be utilized in court or also serve as personal information. Additionally, your data is secure within our organization, and it is maintained in a highly confidential environment.
Collaboration Between PIs and Detectives
Private investigators often collaborate with detectives to solve cases based on their complexity. Together, regardless of their different roles, they contribute to an investigation that requires hard work and can be concluded with each other’s expertise. They strengthen the criminal case by collecting confidential and sensitive data together with solid evidence.
They contribute to the same goal of discovering the truth, but work together to take advantage of each other’s experience within the criminal justice system.
Detective vs Private Investigator: Which One Do You Need?
If your situation involves infidelity, fraud, corporate or personal dispute, then hire a private investigator to solve your case. However, you would need to contact law enforcement to get a detective involved if you are facing a criminal act that needs to be prosecuted, such as theft or assault.
At TM Investigations Inc., our dedicated team of licensed private investigators in Florida offer discreet, professional, result-oriented services that are specific to your case. We understand that every case is different and needs confidentiality, precision, and integrity – and we provide all of the above.
Conclusion
The area of private investigator vs detective is not which type is better – it is which is better for your case. Detectives are law enforcement and serve the justice system; private investigators work for individuals, corporations, or lawyers who want to obtain reliable facts that do not need police intervention.
Whether your issue is a personal situation, criminal case, civil matter, or corporate matter, TM Investigations Inc. is better situated to obtain the facts with professionalism and discretion. Our experienced investigators have experience handling challenging cases with total confidentiality.
So what are you waiting for? We have your back.
If you need a private investigator, call TM Investigations Inc. today for a confidential consultation to obtain clarity where you need it most.
