The Process of Investigation, 4th Edition

Chapter 2

A Comparison of Public and Private Sectors

Abstract

This chapter defines the differences in the objectives for investigations that occur in the public and private sectors. The chapter also delineates the differences in the roles that public and private investigators play, and explores those differences in how they relate to sources of funding and authority such as the government or a client, sources of information and access, job security, scope of work, image, civil liability through vulnerability to civil action, resources for training and education, technical resources, both perceived and actual professionalism, career paths, assistance and informants, and personal achievement and satisfaction. The chapter describes situations in which ...