Private investigation is a general name for a wide range of specialized services offered to businesses and individuals.  There is an incredibly diverse variety of investigation niches and detectives are available to handle practically any case assignment.  While the public knows about the most common types of detective assignments, the average person does not fully appreciate the depth of the investigative professions or the extent to which they work to fulfill the needs of their clientele.

The most commonly known private investigation cases are focused around the types of assignments people can actually witness.  These include official law enforcement investigations, such as crime scene work, criminal matters and accident investigations.  Additionally, many people understand how private investigators deal with insurance claims, store security, loss prevention and personal protection.

Lesser known aspects of the detective professions include process serving, skip tracing, and surveillance work.  Many investigators deal with business assignments for corporate clients, which can range from forensic computer investigations to the most complex legal matters, such as copyright infringement, trademark infringement, patent theft, intellectual property theft and pre-employment background checks.

Many investigators choose to focus on personal matters and specialize in premarital and infidelity investigations.  These experts can root out behaviors and past histories which are injurious to interpersonal relationships.  Moreover, if a relationship is found to be irreparably damaged, these same professionals can gather evidence to be used at trial for divorce cases and even child custody hearings.

Niche investigative experts deal in cases which most people do not consider as typical parts of the detective career path.  There are experts in fire investigation and maritime investigation.  There are fraud specialists and identity theft investigators.  There are cult rescue professionals and home security equipment contractors.  There are mystery shoppers who improve customer service and back office efficiency.  There are personal injury investigators with focuses in slip and fall cases, construction accidents and industrial accidents.  There are also professional detectives who delve into medical record investigations and medical malpractice.

Record search specialists are incredibly efficient at uncovering a complete history of a person, property or business entity.  Most investigators can access databases not available to the general public to retrieve huge amounts of personal information, including past and present phone numbers, addresses, aliases, work histories, credit histories, family information, criminal records, DMV records and more.  There is virtually no end to the types of information an investigator can find on the subject of his or her query.

Private investigators can be forensic accountants, provide asset search services or even discover cell phone numbers and usage.  Investigators can be bounty hunters and bail enforcement agents, helping to keep our streets safe for law abiding citizens.  Detectives can specialize in unresolved criminal matters, including some very sensitive subjects, such as child and elderly abuse.  Investigators can also be trained in polygraph examinations and other forms of lie detection.

Handwriting analysis is one of the most specialized of all investigative assignments and requires years of schooling and practical experience.  Repossession work is fast paced and requires years of fine tuning the art of legally stealing vehicles on the streets.  Stalker protection experts will locate and disclose the identity of a harasser to the local authorities while slander and libel investigators will protect a person's most valuable possession, their reputation.  Semen detection investigators often do double duty as genetic testing specialists.  These niche focus detectives are often called upon for cases involving paternity and adultery and can provide truly eye opening evidence.

The investigative professions continue to expand year by year, encompassing a vivid world of covert operations which exists right below the surface of everyday society.  To learn more about hiring a professional investigator or becoming a private eye yourself, consider contacting a local investigators association or educational program for detailed information.