Florida Private Investigator - South Florida Private Investigator Cory T. Knight

Information on Florida Private Investigators
Nature of the Work

Private detectives and investigators use many methods to determine the facts in a variety of matters. To carry out investigations, they may use various types of surveillance or searches. To verify facts, such as an individual’s place of employment or income, they may make phone calls or visit a subject’s workplace. In other cases, especially those involving missing persons and background checks, investigators often interview people to gather as much information as possible about an individual. In all cases, private detectives and investigators assist attorneys, businesses, and the public with legal, financial, and personal problems.
Private detectives and investigators offer many services, including executive, corporate, and celebrity protection; pre-employment verification; and individual background profiles. They investigate computer crimes, such as identity theft, harassing e-mails, and illegal downloading of copyrighted material. They also provide assistance in civil liability and personal injury cases, insurance claims and fraud, child custody and protection cases, missing persons cases, and premarital screening. They are sometimes hired to investigate individuals to prove or disprove infidelity.
Most detectives and investigators are trained to perform physical surveillance. They may observe a site, such as the home of a subject, from an inconspicuous location or a vehicle. They continue the surveillance, which is often carried out using still and video cameras, binoculars, and a cell phone, until the desired evidence is obtained. This watching and waiting often continues for a long time.
Detectives also may perform computer database searches or work with someone who does. Computers allow investigators to quickly obtain massive amounts of information on individuals’ prior arrests, convictions, and civil legal judgments; telephone numbers; motor vehicle registrations; association and club memberships; and other matters.
The duties of private detectives and investigators depend on the needs of their clients. In cases for employers that involve fraudulent workers’ compensation claims, for example, investigators may carry out long-term covert observation of subjects. If an investigator observes a subject performing an activity that contradicts injuries stated in a worker’s compensation claim, the investigator would take video or still photographs to document the activity and report it to the client.
Private detectives and investigators often specialize. Those who focus on intellectual property theft, for example, investigate and document acts of piracy, help clients stop illegal activity, and provide intelligence for prosecution and civil action. Other investigators specialize in developing financial profiles and asset searches. Their reports reflect information gathered through interviews, investigation and surveillance, and research, including review of public documents.
Legal investigators specialize in cases involving the courts and are normally employed by law firms or lawyers. They frequently assist in preparing criminal defenses, locating witnesses, serving legal documents, interviewing police and prospective witnesses, and gathering and reviewing evidence. Legal investigators also may collect information on the parties to the litigation, take photographs, testify in court, and assemble evidence and reports for trials.
Corporate investigators conduct internal and external investigations for corporations. In internal investigations, they may investigate drug use in the workplace, ensure that expense accounts are not abused, or determine whether employees are stealing merchandise or information. External investigations are typically done to uncover criminal schemes originating outside the corporation, such as theft of company assets through fraudulent billing of products by suppliers.
Financial investigators may be hired to develop confidential financial profiles of individuals or companies that are prospective parties to large financial transactions. These investigators often are certified public accountants (CPAs) who work closely with investment bankers and other accountants. They search for assets in order to recover damages awarded by a court in fraud or theft cases.
Detectives who work for retail stores or hotels are responsible for controlling losses and protecting assets. Store detectives, also known as loss prevention agents, safeguard the assets of retail stores by apprehending anyone attempting to steal merchandise or destroy store property. They prevent theft by shoplifters, vendor representatives, delivery personnel and even store employees. Store detectives also conduct periodic inspections of stock areas, dressing rooms, and restrooms, and sometimes assist in opening and closing the store. They may prepare loss prevention and security reports for management and testify in court against persons they apprehend. Hotel detectives protect guests of the establishment from theft of their belongings and preserve order in hotel restaurants and bars. They also may keep undesirable individuals, such as known thieves, off the premises.
Working Conditions

Private detectives and investigators often work irregular hours because of the need to conduct surveillance and contact people who are not available during normal working hours. Early morning, evening, weekend, and holiday work is common.
Many detectives and investigators spend time away from their offices conducting interviews or doing surveillance, but some work in their office most of the day conducting computer searches and making phone calls. Those who have their own agencies and employ other investigators may work primarily in an office and have normal business hours.
When the investigator is working on a case away from the office, the environment might range from plush boardrooms to seedy bars. Store and hotel detectives work in the businesses that they protect. Investigators generally work alone, but they sometimes work with others during surveillance or when following a subject in order to avoid detection by the subject.
Some of the work involves confrontation, so the job can be stressful and dangerous. Some situations call for the investigator to be armed, such as certain bodyguard assignments for corporate or celebrity clients. Detectives and investigators who carry handguns must be licensed by the appropriate authority. In most cases, however, a weapon is not necessary, because the purpose of the work is gathering information and not law enforcement or criminal apprehension. Owners of investigative agencies have the added stress of having to deal with demanding and sometimes distraught clients.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

There are no formal education requirements for most private detective and investigator jobs, although many private detectives have college degrees. Private detectives and investigators typically have previous experience in other occupations. Some work initially for insurance or collections companies, in the private security industry, or as paralegals. Many investigators enter the field after serving in law enforcement, the military, government auditing and investigative positions, or Federal intelligence jobs.
Former law enforcement officers, military investigators, and government agents, who are frequently able to retire after 25 years of service, often become private detectives or investigators in a second career. Others enter from such diverse fields as finance, accounting, commercial credit, investigative reporting, insurance, and law. These individuals often can apply their prior work experience in a related investigative specialty. A few enter the occupation directly after graduation from college, generally with associate’s or bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice or police science.
The majority of States and the District of Colombia require private detectives and investigators to be licensed. Licensing requirements vary, however. Seven States—Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, and South Dakota—have no statewide licensing requirements, some States have few requirements, and many other States have stringent regulations. A growing number of States are enacting mandatory training programs for private detectives and investigators. For example, the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services of the California Department of Consumer Affairs requires private investigators to be 18 years of age or older; have a combination of education in police science, criminal law, or justice and experience equaling 3 years (6,000 hours) of investigative experience; pass a criminal history background check by the California Department of Justice and the FBI (in most States, convicted felons cannot be issued a license); and receive a qualifying score on a 2-hour written examination covering laws and regulations. There are additional requirements for a firearms permit.
For private detective and investigator jobs, most employers look for individuals with ingenuity, persistence, and assertiveness. A candidate must not be afraid of confrontation, should communicate well, and should be able to think on his or her feet. Good interviewing and interrogation skills also are important and usually are acquired in earlier careers in law enforcement or other fields. Because the courts often are the ultimate judge of a properly conducted investigation, the investigator must be able to present the facts in a manner that a jury will believe.
Training in subjects such as criminal justice and police science is helpful to aspiring private detectives and investigators. Most corporate investigators must have a bachelor’s degree, preferably in a business-related field. Some corporate investigators have a master’s degree in business administration or a law degree, while others are CPAs. Corporate investigators hired by large companies may receive formal training from their employers on business practices, management structure, and various finance-related topics. The screening process for potential employees typically includes a background check for a criminal history.
Some investigators receive certification from a professional organization to demonstrate competency in a field. For example, the National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI) confers the Certified Legal Investigator designation to licensed investigators who devote a majority of their practice to negligence or criminal defense investigations. To receive the designation, applicants must satisfy experience, educational, and continuing-training requirements and must pass written and oral exams administered by the NALI.
Most private-detective agencies are small, with little room for advancement. Usually, there are no defined ranks or steps, so advancement takes the form of increases in salary and assignment status. Many detectives and investigators work for detective agencies at the beginning of their careers and, after a few years, start their own firms. Corporate and legal investigators may rise to supervisor or manager of the security or investigations department.
Employment

Private detectives and investigators held about 43,000 jobs in 2004. About 26 percent were self-employed, including many who held a secondary job as a self-employed private detective. Around 27 percent of jobs were in investigation and security services, including private detective agencies, while another 15 percent were in department or other general merchandise stores. The rest worked mostly in State and local government, legal services firms, employment services companies, insurance agencies, and credit mediation establishments, including banks and other depository institutions.
Job Outlook

Keen competition is expected because private detective and investigator careers attract many qualified people, including relatively young retirees from law enforcement and military careers. The best opportunities will be in entry-level jobs with detective agencies or in stores that hire detectives on a part-time basis. The best prospects for those seeking store detective jobs will be with large chains and discount stores.
Employment of private detectives and investigators is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. In addition to growth, replacement of those who retire or leave the occupation for other reasons should create many job openings. Increased demand for private detectives and investigators will result from fear of crime, increased litigation, and the need to protect confidential information and property of all kinds. The proliferation of criminal activity on the Internet, such as identity theft, spamming, e-mail harassment, and illegal downloading of copyrighted materials, will increase the demand for private investigators. Employee background checks, conducted by private investigators, will become standard for an increasing number of jobs. Growing financial activity worldwide will increase the demand for investigators to control internal and external financial losses and to monitor competitors and prevent industrial spying.
Earnings

Median annual earnings of salaried private detectives and investigators were $32,110 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $24,080 and $43,260. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,260, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $58,470. Earnings of private detectives and investigators vary greatly by employer, specialty, and geographic area.
Related Occupations

Private detectives and investigators often collect information and protect the property and other assets of companies and individuals. Others with related duties include bill and account collectors; claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators; police and detectives; and security guards and gaming surveillance officers. Investigators who specialize in conducting financial profiles and asset searches perform work closely related to that of accountants, auditors, financial analysts, and personal financial advisors.

Automobile Accidents and Florida Private Investigator Cory T. Knight

Automobile Accidents

According to statistics released by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), more than 1 out of 4 all automobile drivers were involved in car accidents in a five year period. Each year, car accidents claim more than 40,000 lives and more than 3 million people are injured due to automobile accidents. In Florida, as elsewhere, car accidents have become a common sight.
If you have lost a loved one in a car accident, or if you have suffered property damage or personal injury as a result of an automobile accident, The South Florida Personal Investigation Firm of CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC may be able to assist you. CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC has successfully assisted clients who were involved in automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents and truck accidents. In a recent case, CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC represented a client who suffered lumbar fusion as a result of an auto accident. Thanks to the legal help of CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC, the jury returned a $4.2 million verdict in favor of the victim.
If you have been involved in an automobile accident or have lost a loved one due to a car crash, call CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC for a complimentary consultation. We can help you understand your investigative and legal options; furthermore we can help you determine whether you have a case. We can help you get the compensation you deserve for your medical expenses and your suffering, by referring you to the proper personal injury law firm.
There are many reasons why a motor vehicle accident may occur. Drunk drivers, hit and run accidents, uninsured drivers, underinsured drivers, and rollovers can all cause motor vehicle collisions. A car accident may involve a personal car, a commercial vehicle, an SUV, a semi-tractor trailer, or other vehicle, and each of these circumstances needs to be carefully considered by qualified Florida private investigators and attorneys. Qualified Florida investigators can evaluate your situation and can help ensure that you get proper treatment. In some cases, automobile accidents can be caused by defective car design or by defective products. These can include defective tires, airbags, seat belts, or gad tanks. CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC have successfully investigated and assisted local attorneys that represented car collision survivors.
An automobile or motorcycle accident can be devastating. It can cause burns, mental trauma, loss of life, severe burns, and even permanent injury. Survivors may require therapy, extensive rehabilitation, surgical reconstruction, and considerable time missed at work. Insurance may cover only a tiny portion of these expenses. Qualified Florida private investigators can refer you to local private injury attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve so that you can replace lost income and so that you can get the quality medical care you deserve.
In many cases, the person who caused a car accident was negligent. An experienced South Florida private investigator can help survivors get the compensation they are entitled to by law - sometimes even without the necessity of a lawsuit. If you have been in a car collision, you will want a private investigation firm with experience. CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC has more than twenty years of insurance claims experience.
If you have suffered injury in an automobile accident, you may be entitled to Personal Injury Protection (PIP) of up to $10 000.00. This money can help you pay for medical costs and can help you replace lost income. Depending on your situation and on the accident, you may be entitled to other forms of compensation. CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC can work with you to help you get as much financial compensation as possible so that you can start again.

There are no up-front costs to consulting with CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC. There are no hidden costs and if Cory T. Knight refers you to a personal injury attorney, you will not have to pay that firm anything if they do not win your case or get an out-of-court settlement. We can meet at your hospital room, office, or home for a no-strings complimentary consultation. This is a chance for you to ask questions and get personalized information about your case. You can speak with one of our qualified South Florida Private Investigators any time you need to -- 7 days a week, 24-hours a day.
Feel Free to contact Cory T. Knight at 954-652-0733.

Hiring a Private Investigator

Hiring a private investigator
The following are some tips to aid you in evaluating which private investigator to work with.
· Make sure they have a license! The vast majority of states require that anyone engaging the practice of investigations be licensed. A Private investigator should be able to produce a copy of such a license immediately for you. Note: there are many companies offering services on the internet which do not qualify as “investigations” but really should be. These companies are completely unregulated and what they give you is whatever they want. Most of these companies are “information brokers” who have access to databases of public records, like telephone numbers, address directories, voter registration filings, etc. These companies offer “background checks” that are nothing more than database searches of old public records. That may be enough to get you what you need, but if you need to be sure that the information is accurate, contact a licensed private investigator. Please be sure that you understand who and what you are dealing with and what they are going to give you, before you hire anyone working in this sector. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Cory T. Knight at CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC.
· Do you need to meet with the P.I.? No, not unless you want to. Much of what we do can be done quickly and with a minimal amount of inconvenience and the formality of a meeting is usually not necessary. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Cory T. Knight at CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC.
· Experience. Some private investigators have little or no investigative background. There are those who have retired from a law enforcement or military career and decide that being a “private investigator” would be action packed and exciting. They enroll in some Private Detective school and after two months, they become a P.I. Does that mean that they are qualified to investigate your case? Not necessarily! It is important that you know the qualifications and experience of the investigator that will be working on your case. In our opinion, the more experienced the investigator, the greater the likelihood that your desired results will be achieved. You don’t want a 19 year old kid with a video camera conducting surveillance for you. It is also our opinion that you need someone who does this type of surveillance regularly. They do not need to be former FBI agents, or secret service. They should be experienced surveillance experts. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Cory T. Knight at CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC.
· Licensed and Bonded. Being bonded is almost always a requirement to get a PI license. If you see a PI advertising that they are “bonded” that does not mean that they are a better investigator or that they offer you some special protection or status.
· Are they insured? Keep in mind that the private investigator who you hire is working for you, as your agent. If he or she is working on your case and they damage someone’s property, get in a car accident, presents false information, etc., etc., etc., they should have ample insurance to cover any loses that arise. If they don’t, you, the one who hired them, are exposed. It is just good common sense to check for insurance coverage before you hire a PI. It should be no problem for a reputable investigator to present a certificate of insurance coverage for you to review and verify. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Cory T. Knight at CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC.
· You get what you pay for. Nothing further needed. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Cory T. Knight at CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC.

http://ctkinvestigations.com/

Civil Judgment Florida Private Investigator Cory T. Knight

If you have a civil judgment from a law suit or are thinking about filing a civil law suit but are unsure if the defendant is collectable, CTK INVESTIGATIONS, LLC is here to help you find the hidden assets, including property, vehicles, employment, bank accounts, business ownership and more.We give you the information needed to collect on that judgment.Our asset searches are designed to locate assets and give you the information you need for judgment collection or asset recovery, without wasting your money on information that you likely already know or could find for free on the internet. We are NOT an information broker reselling asset information found in simple public record databases. We are the choice for those who need to know the truth before they waste valuable time and money chasing an uncollectible debtor.
There are times you simply cannot keep your family safe without professional assistance. We are experts in providing Professional Protection to loved ones, family members and business professionals in times of crisis. We are proud of our Protection and Security Agents and you will be too! Our team is comprised of:
· Agents trained to U.S. Diplomatic Security Service guidelines & standards.
· Agents with recent Private Security Contractor experience in Iraq.
· Agents proficient in alternate weapons and self-defense.
· Agents trained in Homeland Security and BIO-threat tactics.
· Agents with specific Combat Driving training and experience.
· Agents with recent Secret Service experience.
· Agents with current Top Secret Security Clearances.
· Agents with specific Counter Surveillance training and experience.
· Agents with specific Surveillance Detection training and experience.
· Agents with FAA Certified Anti-Terrorist & Air Safety training and experience.
· Agents holding current FAA Flight Attendant Certification.
· Male and Female Agents.
· Ethnically diverse Agents.
· Agents Licensed to carry a concealed firearm in the performance of their duties.
· Agents with current U.S. Passports & Travel Visas
Our experienced and Elite Female Bodyguards & Protection Agents work wonderfully with children and families.

ASSET SEARCH CTK INVESTIGATIONS CORY T KNIGHT

If you have a civil judgment from a law suit or are thinking about filing a civil law suit but are unsure if the defendant is collectable, CTK Investigations is here to help you find the hidden assets, including property, vehicles, employment, bank accounts, business ownership and more.We give you the information needed to collect on that judgment.Our asset searches are designed to locate assets and give you the information you need for judgment collection or asset recovery, without wasting your money on information that you likely already know or could find for free on the internet. We are NOT an information broker reselling asset information found in simple public record databases. We are the choice for those who need to know the truth before they waste valuable time and money chasing an uncollectible debtor.

Private Investigations

Who We Are:

C.T.K. INVESTIGATIONS, LLC is a private investigation agency that provides a broad spectrum of services. We are called upon daily for pre-employment screening, skip traces, surveillance of suspected spouses or business associates as well as computer forensics and services for attorney’s offices. We provide a complete range of services for attorney’s offices such as client sign-ups, accident investigations, satellite imagery, workers’ compensation claims investigation and surveillance just to name a few.

Cory T. Knight