11 May Can a Private Investigator Make Arrests?
While private investigators in often work with police, they are still normal citizens. Which means they don’t have the authority to make an arrest.
There are a lot of misconceptions about what private investigators can and can’t do. In this blog, we’ll clear up all the confusion on where the legal boundaries lie.
Common Misconceptions About Private Investigators
Movies typically paint an unrealistic picture of private investigators. You may see them entering homes, and making arrests among other things. But stuff like that doesn’t happen in real life.
Some examples of common misconceptions about PI’s are,
- Private investigators can wiretap phones
- They can make arrests
- Investigators are above the law
- A PI has access to private records
- Investigators only take on infidelity related cases
Unfortunately, the way media portrays Bushnell private investigators isn’t reality. Just like you or me, an investigator has to follow the same laws as everyone else. However, this doesn’t mean they won’t get to the bottom of your case.
A PI has the experience and recourses to find the truth, and evidence to prove it in a court of law if neccessary.
#1 Private Investigators Only Take On Infidelity Cases
This is a really unfortunate misconception about PI’s because they offer a ton of help outside infidelity cases. At Keck Investigations we take on all kinds of cases including,
- Auto Accident investigations
- Background investigations
- Cybercrimes
- Criminal investigations
- Missing persons
Have you been in a car accident recently? If you’re looking for the truth regarding the collision a private investigator can help.
Or maybe you need to perform a background check and don’t have the proper recourses. Hiring a nanny, finding a roommate, or looking for potential employees can feel daunting. Stranger danger follows us, even into adulthood.
Luckily, an investigator can perform extensive background checks revealing information such as any criminal history. Our recourses are available for all kinds of situations, not just infidelity cases.
#2 A PI Can Wiretap Phones
Just like private investigators can’t make arrests, they also can’t wiretap a phone. If a person is under the impression that they’re in private or speaking in private it is illegal to record their conversations and surveil them.
For example, you’re sitting in your living room at home alone and someone records your conversation that is illegal. But if you were at a coffee shop and a private investigator listened in on your conversation this would not be illegal.
#3 Private Investigators Are Above The Law
Despite a private investigators collaboration with police, they have to follow all of the same laws a normal citizen does. The rules they have to follow vary from state to state but they’re all generally the same.
However, there is some gray area when it comes to the legality of things. So if you’re thinking about pulling off an investigation yourself, we recommend leaving things to the professionals. This is because we have the experiences and recourses necessary to perform the job efficiently and legally.
Contact Us
If you’re in need of the truth, a private investigator here at Keck Investigations has your back. You can contact us online or give us a call at 727-254-1994 for any information you may need or questions you might have.