Note-taking is a large part of a private investigator’s duties. An investigator must accurately report on his or her findings from an investigation, as it could be necessary to recall them more than a year later if the case ends up in civil or criminal court. Accurate notes are crucial in the investigation process in gathering information and giving a clear account of what was observed. It can also be helpful in providing details for an audio or video recording. Furthermore, investigators’ notes can serve to show a client the competency of the private investigator, especially when it may be necessary to describe the challenging environment one is conducting surveillance in. And lastly, these notes help to keep track of the time spent on a case for billing purposes.

Notebooks should always be clearly labeled and kept in a secure place when not in use. Notes should be written legibly in ink so they can’t be altered or erased. Entries should be written down in chronological order, using the 24-hour clock. As much information about the environment should be documented, such as the weather and surroundings.

Here at Focus Solutions Group, note-taking is always done efficiently and professionally by our private investigators. We enter all investigators’ notes electronically into a secure computer database so they can be safely stored and retrieved easily when needed. These notes are also beneficial in providing our clients with detailed and professional investigative final reports.