| When evaluating an investigator's efficiency, his | | | | instances, law enforcement records would be |
| ability to gather factual information and evidence | | | | unavailable. But once the defendant are arrested |
| will be an important standard. And there are | | | | and charged with a crime, some information |
| several usual sources of information for | | | | would be available. |
| investigators. | | | | 4. Information from People |
| 1. Physical evidence | | | | Despite all databases, libraries, volumes of files, |
| Physical evidence includes clothing, papers and | | | | and latest reports available, people remain our |
| documents, fingerprints, photographs and personal | | | | important sources of information. Taxi drivers, |
| effects, wheel marks, footprint, notebooks, | | | | journalists, clergy, court employees, as well as |
| identification cards, credit cards, tools, and every | | | | experts and highly placed professionals have |
| identifiable objects and traces that you can find at | | | | provided information that has led to the effective |
| the crime scene. | | | | conclusions of many cases. And as one of the |
| 2. Scientific tests and experiments | | | | sources of information, people fall into two general |
| This type of evidence may be provided by | | | | categories: informants and clients. If you are an |
| advanced, precise equipments maintained by law | | | | experienced investigator, you can better |
| enforcement agencies, research institutes, private | | | | understand the importance of people as |
| investigative agencies, universities, laboratories, | | | | resources and takes a great deal of time to |
| and medical centers. As an investigator, you may | | | | contact them. |
| find such sources are very useful. | | | | Finally, other two simple rules will help you when |
| 3. Records and documents | | | | you searching for information. First, develop |
| A great deal of information can be found in some | | | | sources of information before you need them. |
| of the records and documents of some particular | | | | Second, take the time to learn the sources in |
| agencies. The investigator must know and how to | | | | your locality and strive to develop new ones. |
| obtain that information. In some states, | | | | Remember, no one is required to give you |
| information is available under the public records. | | | | information. So ask for assistance in suitable way. |
| But if you know the type of information that | | | | A clever investigator develops his sources |
| government and private agencies provides, you | | | | carefully so that he can obtain information on a |
| can use these sources more effectively. In most | | | | personal basis when he needs it. |