LA Private Investigator flashcards
LA Private Investigator · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- LSBPSE
- Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners, the regulatory body that licenses and oversees private investigators and security professionals in Louisiana.
- Qualifying Agent
- A licensed individual who is responsible for the compliance of a private investigator agency and must be designated on the agency license application.
- License Renewal
- Private investigator licenses in Louisiana must be renewed periodically, typically annually, and may require continuing education and payment of fees.
- Unlicensed Practice
- Performing investigative services for hire without a valid license or registration is a violation of Louisiana law and may result in criminal penalties.
- Fourth Amendment
- Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures by government actors; private investigators are generally not bound unless acting as state agents.
- Miranda Warnings
- Required only for custodial interrogation by law enforcement; private investigators are not required to give them, but coerced statements may be inadmissible.
- Citizen's Arrest
- Under Louisiana law, a private person may arrest someone who commits a felony or misdemeanor in their presence and must deliver them to police without unnecessary delay.
- Hearsay Exception
- A statement made outside court may be admissible if it falls under an exception such as excited utterance, business records, or present sense impression.
- Chain of Custody
- A documented record of every transfer and handling of evidence from collection to court, used to show that evidence has not been altered.
- Article 2315
- Louisiana Civil Code article establishing tort liability for damage caused by fault, including negligence and intentional acts.
- Invasion of Privacy
- A tort involving unreasonable intrusion upon seclusion, public disclosure of private facts, false light, or appropriation of name or likeness.
- Malicious Prosecution
- A tort requiring commencement of criminal proceedings without probable cause, with malice, and termination in the plaintiff's favor.
- False Imprisonment
- Intentional confinement of a person without consent or legal authority; a private investigator may be liable for detaining a suspect without probable cause.
- Respondeat Superior
- Legal doctrine holding an employer or agency liable for the acts of employees committed within the scope of employment.
- Mobile Surveillance
- Following a subject in a vehicle using techniques such as lead, follow, and leapfrog while avoiding detection and obeying traffic laws.
- Static Surveillance
- Observing a fixed location from a concealed position, documenting all activity with time stamps and maintaining a plausible cover.
- Case Management
- Organizing an investigation with a signed engagement letter, defined scope, budget, chronological activity log, and evidence inventory.
- Surveillance Log
- A contemporaneous record of times, locations, observations, and actions taken during surveillance, used to support reports and testimony.
- Evidence Packaging
- Using appropriate containers (paper for biological, plastic for non-biological), sealing with evidence tape, and initialing across the seal.
- Evidence Log
- A record documenting each item of evidence, including description, location found, date/time collected, and collector's name.
- Report Writing
- Preparing a factual, objective narrative including case number, date, time, location, persons present, observations, actions, and evidence collected.
- Spoliation
- Destruction or alteration of evidence; investigators must preserve all notes, recordings, and drafts as they may be discoverable.
- Cognitive Interview
- A witness interviewing technique using open-ended questions, free recall, and minimal interruption to enhance memory retrieval.
- Coerced Statement
- A statement obtained through threats, promises, or force; may be inadmissible and expose the investigator to civil liability.
- One-Party Consent
- Louisiana law allows recording a conversation with the consent of at least one party; ethical rules may require disclosure.
- Juvenile Interview
- Interviewing a minor requires parental consent and a non-threatening environment; avoid leading questions to ensure reliability.
- FCRA
- Fair Credit Reporting Act, a federal law governing consumer reports; investigators must have a permissible purpose and comply with notice requirements.
- DPPA
- Driver's Privacy Protection Act, which restricts access to personal information from motor vehicle records to permissible purposes.
- GLBA
- Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which protects nonpublic personal financial information and prohibits pretexting to obtain financial records.
- Pretexting
- Obtaining information by false pretenses; prohibited under federal and Louisiana law and may result in criminal and civil penalties.
- Engagement Letter
- A written agreement specifying the scope, fees, deliverables, and terms of an investigation, protecting both client and investigator.
- Contingent Fee
- A fee based on the outcome of an investigation; generally prohibited in criminal cases and discouraged in professional ethics codes.