A special subset of child-related domestic investigations deals with ascertaining whether any drug or alcohol abuse is occurring in the home. There are a number of ways investigators can uncover substance abuse such as trash monitoring and surveillance of the subject. 

Substance abuse carries unique dangers unlike other cases of child neglect and abuse. Illegal drugs can cause dangerous and violent behavior in individuals who might otherwise not be prone to such actions. The culture of secrecy that builds in the household may be used to hide other activities. Children raised in houses with substance abuse are far more likely to have substance abuse problems in the future. 

In these cases, getting help for the parent is as important as ensuring the child is in a safe environment.

When many people think of domestic investigation they think of infidelity investigations. However private detectives look into many other domestic situations and are often instrumental in helping children get out of dangerous home situations. 

Unfortunately, child abuse and neglect cases are skyrocketing. The Department of Protective Services handles as many of these cases as they can but they are sometimes limited as to how much information they can uncover or how much help they can give. Friends, ex-spouses and extended family members who suspect abuse or neglect sometimes hire private investigators to look into the situation. 

Private domestic investigation can uncover situations of neglect and abuse. Investigators can find information that helps cases or allows families to seek help outside of the agency. These investigations can be carried out discreetly without alerting the family using methods such as covert surveillance. More direct investigations can include questioning friends and neighbors to confirm the situation.

As times turn hard, Americans have to cut back to make ends meet. With increased unemployment, freezes on raises and reduction in benefits, especially health insurance, many of them find things getting increasingly desperate. Their situation goes from being unable to afford cable television to being unable to afford groceries. 

Even decent, law-abiding citizens start to face hard decisions. The type of person who will go back to a store if they are given an extra quarter in change is now in a situation where it is a choice between defrauding a faceless corporation or losing the family home. These aren’t the professional con artists that surveillance companies are used to dealing with, but average people facing above average financial problems.

Industrial espionage is as old as business itself. Anytime there is competition, each company will try to discover the strengths and vulnerabilities of rival vendors. Some methods have changed while others are basically the same as they were centuries ago. If a competitor always seems to be one step ahead of you, maybe it’s because they know more than they should. 

Modern counter intelligence includes complete background checks on employees to discover moles in the organization, office sweeps for electronic listening devices, scans of computers for spyware, and more. The very same information technology that has made it easier to share information within the company and with approved vendors can open doors to allow unauthorized

Over the last few years, there have been several incidents of child and teenage abduction cases.

My question is what can parents do to stop the rise of this sometimes brutal and unnecessary crime?

As a private investigator, I always recommend that parents should monitor their children’s internet access and pay close attention to what types of things that are in their room.  Parents should focus on what the kids are saying and who they are hanging out with.

I also recommend that parents have photos and fingerprints taken of their children.  Some schools now give students inkless fingerprint kits, a DNA kits, and some also have photo cards with recent photos of kids from picture day.  All of these are important in he event that the worst happens, these photos and fingerprints will help the police with there investigations.  

Being a private investigator is not like what you see on TV, but it can be a rewarding career. It is a profession that is somewhat recession-resistant during economic downturns.  There may be a decline in some areas of investigations, but others such as asset searches or fraud investigations may see an increase. Infidelity investigations remain one of the leading sources of work for private investigators. Evidence of infidelity by a private  investigator carries more weight in divorce proceedings.

What Training Is Needed? 

Some private investigators have college degrees, but the majority of private investigators earned their experience working at the local police and sheriff departments.  As a new private investigator you will work under the guidance of an experienced investigator.   As the new investigator gains more experience they are given greater responsibility. In

What is the Career Outlook for the Private Investigative Industry? 

The US Department of Labor predicts substantial growth in the profession over the next ten years due to a number of factors.  There will also be a substantial growth in the number of people going into this field.  As a result, competition for jobs will be high and new applicants will need to stand out by demonstrating exceptional skill or previous experience. 

People hire private investigators for reasons such as background investigations, domestic investigations, missing person investigations, and asset searches.  However, most people don’t know how to find a private investigator.  So what should you look for when hiring private investigators? 

Start with an internet search.  Be sure to use the city in your search (i.e. “

When you have a short list of private investigators, make some phone calls about your case and interview the investigator. Ask the investigator about their experience as it relates directly to your situation.  This will give you a feel for the investigator and how well you will be able to work together.  Due to the confidential nature of private investigative work you will not have access to a list of professional references.  That is why it is very important to listen to the investigator’s plan for your case.  You should have confidence this person has a clearly defined strategy for your investigation. An investigator without experience will waste your time and money. An experienced private investigator will arrive at a solution quicker which will save you time and money.

Experienced private investigators are not cheap, but hiring a private investigator should be considered an investment not an expense.