Indiana Statutes and Administrative Rules Governing Private Investigators
Indiana Statutes and Administrative Rules
This domain tests the statutory frame in IC 25-30-1 and the board's administrative rules in Title 876 IAC. The exam expects you to know who must be licensed, what conduct is reserved to licensees, how the board enforces the law, and where rulemaking fills in application, examination, and practice details.
Core rules
- IC 25-30-1 defines private investigation broadly: obtaining information about a person's identity, habits, conduct, whereabouts, affiliations, reputation, or character; securing evidence; locating missing persons or lost property.
- Unlicensed practice is prohibited, and a licensed firm may not aid an unlicensed person in doing investigative work.
- The board adopts rules for applications, qualifications, examinations, registration of employees, renewal, and discipline.
- The firm is the licensed entity; employees must be registered and supervised.
- Violations can lead to administrative discipline, including license denial, suspension, revocation, or civil penalties, separate from criminal exposure.
Worked example
An employee of a licensed firm is offered a cash case directly by a client. The employee cannot accept it in her own name: her registration authorizes work for the firm, not independent practice. The firm must contract for the work, assign the employee, and keep the case records. Accepting directly is unlicensed activity and exposes both the employee and the firm.
Traps
Do not assume a registration number is a license. Do not assume "investigation" means only surveillance; the statutory definition covers background checks, locates, and evidence gathering. Do not ignore rule changes: the board's rules, not just the statute, supply application and renewal details. Do not treat a criminal acquittal as ending administrative risk; the board applies its own conduct standards.