Why Every Defense Needs an Investigator

When your freedom, family, or reputation is on the line, every detail matters. A skilled Private Investigator doesn’t just gather evidence—they change the outcome. Whether it’s a criminal defense, custody dispute, or personal injury case, adding a licensed investigator to your team can uncover the truth that others overlook.

1. The Legal Backbone: Michigan’s Investigator Licensing Laws

In Michigan, investigators must be licensed through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) under Act 285 of 1965. This ensures your investigator operates legally and ethically. Learn more on the Michigan.gov LARA licensing page.

What licensing guarantees you:

• Proper training and credentials
• Adherence to rules of evidence and chain of custody
• Legally admissible reports and testimony
• Confidential handling of sensitive information

Pro Tip: Always confirm your investigator’s license number before hiring.

2. Why Defense Attorneys Rely on Private Investigators

A Private Investigator is more than an assistant—they’re your eyes and ears outside the courtroom.

Key benefits include:

• Evidence Review: Re-examining existing discovery for overlooked exculpatory evidence.
• Crime Scene Analysis: Visiting the scene, taking measurements, photos, and gathering video.
• Witness Interviews: Conducting unbiased, recordable interviews—so your investigator can testify to rebut false statements if needed.
• Background Checks: Vetting prosecution witnesses to identify credibility issues.
• Time Savings: Attorneys can focus on strategy while investigators handle legwork.

Did You Know? Attorneys can’t testify about what witnesses told them—but investigators can. That alone can be the turning point in trial testimony.

3. The Advantage of Law Enforcement Experience

While not all investigators come from police backgrounds, those who do bring unique insight into how the prosecution builds its case.

They understand:

• Probable cause and evidentiary procedure
• Chain of custody and evidence preservation
• Interrogation techniques and how to spot inconsistencies
• An experienced investigator with law enforcement roots can anticipate the opposition’s moves—and help your attorney stay two steps ahead.

4. Timing Is Everything in an Investigation

Evidence fades fast. Surveillance footage gets erased, witnesses move, and memories blur.

Every professional investigator knows the regret of coming in too late—when that crucial video or statement is already gone.

Start your investigation early to:

• Preserve time-sensitive evidence
• Document conditions at the scene
• Identify new witnesses before they disappear

5. Beyond Criminal Defense: The Investigator’s Role in Other Cases

The same investigative principles apply to:

• Divorce & Child Custody: Discreet surveillance to verify behaviors and support custody arguments.
• Personal Injury Claims: Gathering video, witness statements, or photos before they vanish.
• Fraud & Liability: Detecting inconsistencies and mitigating surprises before trial.

Sometimes the most valuable discovery is evidence that hurts your case—because knowing it early lets your legal team neutralize it. For more insight, see the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission’s White Paper on the role of investigators: White Paper: Experts & Investigators in Defense Cases (PDF)

Your Case Deserves Every Advantage

Hiring a Private Investigator isn’t an expense—it’s an investment in your defense. The difference between conviction and exoneration often lies in who finds the facts first. At Vantage Point Investigations, we bring decades of experience, strategic thinking, and relentless pursuit of the truth.
The right vantage point can change everything.