Other than a skilled criminal defense lawyer, a private investigator can be your best friend when it comes to defending a charge of domestic violence. Many private investigators are retired law enforcement officers and have intimate knowledge of how the police investigate these cases. They know how a case is built and what information is needed in order to charge someone with a crime; and they know what information, if lacking, can destroy a criminal charge. Connections and “inside” information can help your case tremendously. A private investigator will know how to get helpful information.

The investigator’s job is to find all of the information available regarding the parties involved and the incidents leading to the arrest. To do this, investigators will take photos of the scene of the incident or injuries; they will interview all parties involved and all witnesses to the incident; they will find and interview any neighbors or other parties who may know the history of the parties involved (such as previous violent episodes); they may try to retrieve copies of medical records of both parties; and and they will definitely look into the criminal history of both parties.

After gathering all of the information, the investigator will piece together the events leading up to the incident. This information is critically important to the defense lawyer, whose job it is to look out for the interests of the accused. This information may be used to convince the prosecutor to drop the charges or offer a reduced plea. Additionally, the information could damage the credibility of a witness, or it may help develop the reasonable doubt necessary for an acquittal or a hung jury.

A skilled criminal defense attorney will know many private investigators. Because of the intricacies of these types of cases, it is very important that the right private investigator is hired and that the private investigator has a great relationship with your attorney. Not all investigators are created equal. Your attorney will know how to choose the right person to get the information needed to help your case.