Utilization of Investigative Support by Attorneys

Investigarive Support

• Why use a private investigator?
• Finding a qualified, licensed, professional investigator.
• Utilizing a private investigator.

Why use a private investigator?
Few, if any, successful attorneys have the time to conduct investigative activities. A thorough investigation must be conducted and can entail activities that require time-consuming work. All potential witnesses must be interviewed. Additional witnesses should be developed beyond what law enforcement has identified. Law enforcement officers tend to focus on evidence, information, and witnesses that support their case rather than on the objective facts of the case. Without a thorough independent investigation by the defense, evidence, information and witnesses that support the defendant may never be revealed. In addition to standard investigative activities, the investigator can review discovery documents to develop leads, evaluate prospective jurors, serve legal papers, and provide support and feedback during trial.

Investigators are often more experienced in conducting interviews than attorneys. They can also go into geographical areas the attorney may not wish to go. In many cases, they can better relate to witnesses of varying backgrounds, social levels, and ethnic origins. Since many private investigators are former law enforcement officers, they can often obtain information from LE sources that others can’t.

The use of an investigator by an attorney provides an image of a well-staffed, professional defense team. Since the investigator’s fee is a legal expense to be born by the client above and beyond the attorney’s fees, his/her services are at no cost to the attorney. Many qualified, licensed investigators are available throughout Kansas with a primary objective of providing investigative services to attorneys.

Finding a qualified professional investigator.
The Kansas Association of Licensed Investigators (KALI) is the largest organization of private investigators in Kansas with over 100 members. Members can be contacted through the association’s web site at www.k-a-l-i.org. This site lists members by geographic regions with full contact information. All members are bound by a code of ethics and are licensed and insured. They can ensure you have full investigative resources available throughout Kansas through utilization of our association and fellow members.

Utilize a private investigator to:

Interview witnesses

To obtain facts omitted from police reports

To determine the quality of witnesses

Their interview techniques & emphasis will differ from LE officers

Many witnesses will not talk to the LE officers, but will help the defense

Interview professional sources

Interview law enforcement officers and coroners, etc

Conduct in-person searches of pubic records locally, statewide, and nationally

Serve subpoenas and other legal papers

Locate people and property

Conduct surveillances

Assist in jury selection

Aid in locating expert witnesses

Conduct online searches

Provide photographic support

Review discovery documents

Provide additional insight

Generate investigative leads

Cover material you may not have time to review

Provide feedback and assistance during trial

They are another set eyes to observe jurors and witnesses

Help evaluate both prosecutor's and defense's presentations

Run errands; serve papers, schedule witnesses, etc., during trial.

Baby-sit the client

You can never see the client as often as he/she wants

PI can visit them more often and relay wants and needs

PI can assure them they have the best attorney available

Any other legal support you deem necessary

This information is provided by C. E. Kelley & Associates Investigations and may be reproduced and freely used with proper acknowledgement. To provide comments or for futher information, contact Jack Kelley at:
kelleypi@aol.com
or
P. O. Box 395
Baxter Springs, KS 66713
or
620-856-4460

PRIVATE INVESTIGATION RESOURCES

C. E. Kelley & Associates Investigations
Kansas Association of Licensed Investigators (KALI)
INTELNET (International organization of investigators)
State of Kansas
Information on hiring a private investigator.