“The Process”
Criminal Defense Investigator Facts
Working as fact finders, criminal defense investigators serve a critical role in the justice system, both in private and public / indigent defense cases. Investigators do not provide legal advice. Examples of what a criminal defense investigator does include:
Conduct surveillance, mobile and stationary
Locate and interview witnesses, including the alleged victim
Canvas an area to locate additional witnesses and camera footage
Develop additional leads for the attorney to follow up on
Serve subpoenas on witnesses for upcoming trial
The Investigative Process
Receive & Review, Consult, and First Contact
Initial contact with most out of custody clients takes place within the first 2-3 days, by phone or in person. This is to help build rapport and give the client a basic introduction. In custody contacts vary depending on the facility the client is lodged in. Discovery is provided to us for review followed by a consultation with the attorney to discuss their legal theories and establish an investigative “task list” to complete.Investigate, Report, Consult, and Follow Up
We conduct a diligent investigation using a variety of tools and techniques available to us, for example - drones. Investigative reports are often provided 2-3 business days after an interview. These include a recommendation section for approval by the attorney if we need to expand the investigation. We maintain regular contact with the attorney(s) regarding the status of the investigation and our findings.Prepare Trial Exhibits & Serve Subpoenas
Assistance can be provided with the preparation of exhibits such as graphic timelines, basic image enhancements, and basic audio enhancements. The service of subpoenas can also be completed by us in a timely manner on witnesses across the Southwest Washington and Tri-County Oregon areas. If service needs to be completed on someone elsewhere, we can help facilitate that with our network of professional process servers.