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The Benefits of Private Investigators for Criminal Cases in NYC
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The Benefits of Private Investigators for Criminal Cases in NYC
Private investigators can provide invaluable assistance on criminal cases in New York City. They have access to resources and information that can help build a strong defense for clients facing criminal charges.
Conducting Thorough Investigations
A private investigator has the time and skills to dig deeper into a criminal case than a busy public defender may be able to. They can track down witnesses, gather background information on victims and witnesses, analyze forensic evidence, and identify other suspects or leads the police may have missed.
For example, in one case a private investigator was able to prove his client’s innocence by tracking down a witness whose testimony was critical in exonerating the defendant [3]. Thorough investigations by private detectives can uncover holes in the prosecution’s case or reveal new evidence that creates reasonable doubt of the defendant’s guilt.
Accessing Resources Lawyers Can’t
Private eyes also have access to databases and networks that allow them to obtain useful information that attorneys don’t have access to. They can pull cell phone records, financial records, criminal histories, and other data that may be relevant to a defense case. Some unscrupulous investigators have even paid bribes to get confidential information from law enforcement databases, landing them and the officers they bribed in legal jeopardy [5].
Conducting Surveillance
Surveillance is another valuable service private detectives can provide. They can follow victims, witnesses or potential suspects to gather information about their whereabouts, habits, relationships and credibility. However, some aggressive surveillance tactics have landed private eyes in hot water when they have been careless about who hired them. Iranian intelligence agents once used an unwitting private investigator to try to kidnap a journalist critical of Iran’s government from her home in Brooklyn [1].
Interviewing Witnesses
Seasoned private detectives have skills in interviewing witnesses and informants that can elicit important information to support a defense. Unlike police interrogators, they focus on listening and building rapport rather than threats or manipulation. Investigators may use clever pretexts to get reluctant sources to open up with information that would be inadmissible in court but still useful for developing leads and theories about a case [4].
Helping Craft Legal Strategy
The insights gleaned from investigators’ work can be invaluable for defense lawyers in structuring their legal approach. Private detectives are not constrained by prosecutorial policies or political pressures, so they may uncover revelations that lead attorneys to take a case in a direction they wouldn’t have otherwise. Information found by private eyes can support motions to suppress evidence, call out misconduct or inadequate police work, and even prompt prosecutors to drop charges in some instances.
Why Hire Private Investigators?
So why should defendants facing criminal charges hire private investigators to assist in their defense? There are a few key reasons:
- Public defenders carry extremely high caseloads, limiting the time they can devote to each client.
- Private investigators have expertise and access to resources attorneys lack.
- Investigators are not constrained by legal procedures or evidentiary rules as they search for information.
- Information discovered by investigators can uncover new defense strategies and even prove innocence.
Cost Savings in the Long Run
While hiring a private investigator adds an upfront cost, it can save much more money over the course of a lengthy criminal trial and appeal process. If charges get dismissed due to the work of a private eye, that saves months or years of legal fees, lost income and reduced earning potential from having a criminal record. Even if a trial and conviction still occur, evidence uncovered by an investigator can lead to reduced charges or shorter sentences.
Finding the Right Investigator
It’s critical for defense attorneys and defendants facing criminal charges to choose their private investigator carefully, however. An inexperienced or unethical investigator could mishandle evidence, engage in illegal conduct themselves, or even end up implicating their own client unintentionally. Attorneys should vet investigators thoroughly and supervise their activities closely once hired.
The right private eye with sound judgment can make all the difference in the outcome of a criminal case. Investigators have saved innocent people from prison and brought down unethical prosecutions by authorities across New York City and beyond. If you or a loved one are facing criminal charges, hiring a private investigator may be one of the smartest investments you can make as the case unfolds.
For more help understanding the benefits of private investigators for criminal defense in NYC, contact Johnson Investigations at (212) 555-4343 or visit our website www.johnsoninvestigations.com
Citations
[1] Iran and China Use Private Detectives to Spy on Dissidents in America
[2] Trump PAC foots bill for private investigator in Manhattan criminal case, E. Jean Carroll trial
[3] A Private Investigator Wanted to Prove His Clients Innocent. Will His Methods Be His Own Undoing?
[4] Why Private Eyes Are Everywhere Now
[5] Private Investigator and Former NYPD Officer Arrested in Bribery Scheme to Obtain Reports from Federal Law Enforcement Database