Even with the strict oversight of The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services regarding the conduct and behavior in the way private investigative services are rendered, the consumer should beware that they are vulnerable to being victimized at multiple levels.
When a person is in need of a private investigator, be it for suspected adultery, child custody, missing persons, accident scene investigation, fraud or a criminal defense case, the victim or client is often distraught and usually isn’t in the right frame of mind to thoroughly evaluate a private investigation agency. This makes it all the more important that private investigation firms hold themselves to high ethical and moral standards. These agencies should deliver quick, professional service without taking advantage of a client in his or her time of need.
Unfortunately, high moral standards and ethical conduct are not concepts that many individuals associate with private investigators. Numerous private investigation businesses are rather unscrupulous in their business, and regard their clients as paychecks, rather than as people. These poorly run, unprincipled businesses have led to a stereotype that private investigators are sleazy, shady characters.
As a result, consumers are often weary of hiring private investigators, as they are never quite clear on which PI firms do not condone these unethical practices. Creditable private investigators strive to conduct themselves with respect, compassion and empathy for their clientele. One such private investigation company is Commonwealth Special Investigations (CSI) based out of Vienna, Virginia.
Commonwealth Special Investigation’s (CSI) chief investigator is a former police officer in the Commonwealth of Virginia. James Buchanan is able to draw on his extensive police training to be efficient and effective while still looking out for the welfare of his clients. One way that CSI distinguishes itself from the competition is by taking the time to sit down and talk with the client to determine precisely what they hope to gain by hiring a private investigator. Often, private investigators become bearers of bad news. CSI is dedicated to the well-being of their clients, and ensures that they are mentally prepared for the bad news that they could potentially receive. The unprincipled investigation companies will quickly accept the job without attending to the mental and emotional state of their clientele.
For example CSI is often contacted regarding cases of suspected adultery. This is an extremely painful issue, one that needs to be approached with sensitivity and discretion. The investigator needs to be considerate of the client’s feelings and emotional well being throughout the entire investigation process. In these cases CSI will begin the business relationship by counseling the client to ensuring that they do not convince themselves that their spouse’s infidelity is a result of their own actions. In some cases CSI will refer the client for therapy with a licensed professional, putting client needs over profit.
There are many examples of the empathy and compassion that CSI shows their clientele. In one particular case, a woman hired CSI’s investigators to determine if her husband was being unfaithful. This ultimately proved to be the case. However, even after it was proven that her spouse was in fact disloyal, she attempted to spend increasing sums of money for CSI to collect as much photographic and video evidence as possible. Jim recognized the torture that this woman was putting herself through each time she saw proof that her husband was adulterous, and therefore convinced her to stop paying CSI and consider what she was doing to herself.
It should also be noted that many individuals lose their objectivity when they are attempting to determine if they have been victimized. Therefore it is advised that no individual attempt to perform his or her own PI work. Objectivity is of the utmost importance in private investigations. In fact, most police officers will not work a case in which they are personally involved. If a case does go to trial, the testimony of a professional disinterested third party will have more credence.
This objectivity is exceptionally important; this is especially true with domestic cases in which the situation can become quite impassioned and volatile. For the protection of the client, CSI will not bring a client to a scene where the spouse is performing an adulterous act.
While CSI’s office is in the northern Virginia area, they do perform investigative work in other parts of the state, including Richmond and the Hampton Roads area.
CSI does not charge a large flat fee for their investigative work. Instead they obtain a reasonable retainer, and then deduct from that an hourly fee as work is performed. Using this payment method, the customer is not required to pay an exorbitant fee if little evidence is able to be collected. This mitigates the issue of the client being disappointed with the investigation’s results in comparison to an upfront amount being paid.
The care and compassion that CSI shows for their clients exemplifies their professionalism. Former clients have commented on CSI’s service stating that their investigators really showed empathy and compassion for their plight. In an ever changing world, if you or someone you care about becomes a victim of an unfortunate situation, domestic or other, CSI will demonstrate to you as they have to so many others why they are so highly regarded by their former and current customers. To contact CSI with any questions or concerns, please visit their website at
CSI-VA.NET
Commonwealth Special Investigations, LLC is licensed with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. License # 11-5177 |
