Domestic Violence Private Investigators (Private Eye)

Domestic Violence is an Epidemic

Affecting individuals in every community, regardless of age, economic status, race, religion, nationality or educational background.  The National Coalition against Domestic Violence has found that one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime.

Because domestic violence situations typically include physical violence, intimidation, psychological abuse, and threatening behavior, many victims are hesitant to report incidences to the proper authorities. However, when domestic violence is reported and Personal Injury claims from Domestic Violence are filed, hiring a Private Eye to conduct investigations of the situation is one of the best ways to document abuse and gather evidence to use in court.

How a Private Investigator Can Help

The role of the private eye in these cases is very important. The Investigator can gather documentation and evidence of the abuse that may be used in any legal proceedings, including divorce and child custody agreements. Due to the sensitive nature of domestic abuse and the fear that victims may have, family members or friends may also hire private investigators if they suspect that a loved one is being abused.

One of the best ways to prove physical abuse is through photographs. A Bee-Safe Domestic Violence Private Investigator will take pictures of injuries and document the time and date they occur. Verbal or emotional abuse may be documented by recording phone conversations, saving emails, or installing hidden cameras. The private investigator may also interview family members, friends, and co-workers to establish that the accused has violent or abusive tendencies. The investigator can gather the relevant medical histories of the abused/abuser to see if there are any previous instances of abuse.

What Does a Private Investigator Do for My Case?

If you’re asking yourself, “Should I hire a private investigator,” here are some things to consider. Domestic violence is often difficult to prove because many victims are hesitant to report the abuse. He or she is embarrassed, does not realize the seriousness of the problem, is too frightened, or the abuser threatens to take away the children and/or withhold access to the funds to pay expenses.

Furthermore, domestic violence often occurs on private property and often without witnesses. In cases where there is stalking or coercive control, there may be no obvious proof of psychological and verbal abuse.

A family lawyer will initiate the necessary legal action to obtain domestic violence restraining orders, as well as orders for custody and support. They will also work with you to retain a private investigator (P.I.). A P.I. will help with obtaining evidence of abuse to support the legal action.

A Bee-Safe private investigator can obtain evidence using various means. There are several ways an investigator can find supporting evidence including the following.

• Doing a background investigation of the abuser to find prior instances of domestic violence, news articles, arrest/convictions, and family members, friends, and co-workers to interview.
• Taking pictures of injuries from physical abuse, and documenting the time and date they occur.
• Looking for GPS devices on cars, illegal spyware on telephones, and evidence of stalking the victim online to prove tracking, stalking, verbal or emotional abuse.
• Installing equipment including hidden cameras, if appropriate.

What a P.I. Can Do For Survivors

Matt De Leon is the vice president of investigations for Trustify. He says private investigators, generally, can help survivors in three main ways:

•    Detect stalking. “We help survivors avoid being digitally tracked and otherwise stalked by their attackers,” says De Leon. They look for things like GPS devices on survivors’ cars, illegal spyware on their phones and evidence that an abuser is stalking a survivor online.
•    Gather evidence. De Leon says private investigators can gather evidence for court on behalf of a survivor for the purposes of enforcing restraining orders, prosecuting domestic violence, or for use in custody cases. Here are 23 examples of evidence one could collect. De Leon confirmed that evidence gathered legally by a private investigator can be used as evidence in court.
•    Background checks. “Trustify can do background checks on attackers to determine levels of risk and to help survivors develop a strategy to avoid their attacker.

“Investigators can also give survivors advice on how to change their routines to avoid being found by their attacker,” says De Leon. As people trained to blend in, private investigators can be helpful resources in training survivors how to disappear.

California-based Private Detective William Holland told the Los Angeles Times, “We have to play devil’s advocate. For example, as a P. I., I know what it takes to find you. And if I can find you, then some other hired tracker can find you. These women have to go through a major, major identity change.”

Tags: Ohio Domestic Violence Private Investigator, Ohio Abuse Investigator, Abuse Case Private Detective, Child Abuse Private Investigator, Help for Women in Domestic Violence Situations