Page 14 - 2021 Detective Startup Training CIDI

PI Standards - Licensed and Unlicensed 02/26/2021

Why License / Regulate PIs?

… Rule 8.4 (Maintaining the Integrity of the

Profession) – specifically part (c) “engage in
conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or

misrepresentation, except that a lawyer may advise,
direct, or supervise others, including clients, law
enforcement officers, or investigators, who

participate in lawful investigative activities” and
the potential conundrum and conflict for PIs.

The ethics requirement for non-attorney
clients ends 08/31/2021
It is recommended continuing in your Standards as protection

Why License / Regulate PIs?

These are so important to our judicial process,

these have long been codified and doctrines when
the PI is an agent for an attorney – but until 2015,

and now again in 2021 – only with attorney-clients.

If the PI violates these the only recourse is to file a

complaint against the attorney.
If no attorney is involved – no such recourse at all.
The ethics requirement for non-attorney
clients ends 08/31/2021
It is recommended continuing in your Standards as protection

PPIAC-CIDI 2021 6