The Getting Started Your Program course is designed to help you make a smooth transition to Penn Foster, including learning how to use all of the tools and resources available to you. The aim is to help you become a confident and independent learner.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Further express your goals and expectations
- Navigate Penn Foster's learning environment, including the student portal
- Describe what it takes to be a successful online student
- Identify your preferred study materials and learning styles
- Determine personal financial goals.
- Practice some important study and time management skills.
- Access and use helpful resources such as the Penn Foster Virtual Library and various help resources
This course will introduce you to the many exciting opportunities that exist in a career as a private investigator. It blends personal experiences with traditional textbook lesson plans and is practical and hands-on. Security job opportunities have never been better. One result of the tragic experience of 9/11 is a heightened awareness among Americans of the need for security. Law enforcement cannot do everything. New jobs are created every day in the private security profession. As we move into the 21st century, the demand for qualified and well-trained private investigators is greater than ever.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Describe the various job opportunities available in private investigations.
- Collect and use information as a researcher
- Use the basic tools needed to conduct private investigations
- Discuss the difference between the real world of private investigations and the fictional version portrayed by writers and filmmakers.
- Explore related fields you may need to explore as a researcher
- Name and describe the personal characteristics important to success as a private investigator
This course will introduce you to enough fundamentals of the legal system to serve as a starting point for the continuous learning that makes private investigation an exciting career. You will be presented with several Supreme Court cases and certain constitutional amendments. You'll need to understand a number of local, state, and federal laws that directly affect your work as a private investigator, and since laws differ in different states, you'll need to do some research on your own. In this course, you will receive guidance on how to conduct the necessary research.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Know and differentiate between civil, equitable and criminal law.
- Name and explain the basic steps of the legal system for dealing with civil matters.
- Name and explain the basic steps of the legal system for dealing with criminal matters.
page 5 - Compare and contrast laws regulating prisons in terms of how these laws apply to both public law and
surveillance and private security - Describe amendments to the United States Constitution that will affect your work as a private investigator
- Discuss some of the famous US Supreme Court decisions relating to law enforcement and
private investigations
This course introduces the importance of communication skills in the practice of private investigation. First, you will learn about the different types of communication. In communication, what people do can be as important as what they say. You communicate with others in all ways, not just words. It is important that you understand both verbal and non-verbal communication. You will then learn about the role of communication skills in gathering information for your investigations. How you communicate with others will determine your success as a private investigator. Clearly, there's a lot to learn about how to communicate well as a private investigator. Writing down your strengths and working to eliminate your weaknesses will be part of the interesting work of this course. Knowing yourself is the first part of being a good communicator.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Describe the difference between verbal and non-verbal communication.
- Explain the elements of non-verbal communication.
- Discuss the role of communication in relation to differences between the public and private sectors.
sector investigations - Expand your communication skills and problem-solving techniques.
- Explain the techniques used in routine contacts with clients, witnesses and others involved in the
investigative process - Improve your listening skills
- Explain the qualities of a good voice and proper telephone manners
- Describe the eight levels of relating to others.
- Identify eight conflict resolution situations.
- Explain the specialized communication skills needed in investigations.
- Describe communication issues related to public record information
- Develop communication skills as a witness in court and other legal environments
Private investigators must work within a business framework. Each case must be established, records must be kept, and fees must be collected and collected.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Decide what services to offer
- Record and archive reports, photos, video and audio tapes
- Outline of an investigation page 6
- Develop information from multiple sources.
- Identify potential customers
- Market your services
- Establish administrative procedures
- Create appropriate forms
- Create an effective report format
- Configure case files
- billing control
This course introduces and explains some of the many sources of information available to you as a private investigator. First, you will learn what kind of information is available and how understanding that information is critical to your success as a researcher.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Identify six classifications of research information resources
- Discuss the role of the Internet in private investigation
- Differentiate between public and private records.
- Explain restrictions on obtaining credit reports.
- Describe how databases are used to develop research information.
- Explain the use of public libraries as research resources.
- Discuss how to use field research in connection with research activities.
- Describe how to avoid misuse of information resources in ways that could cause legal complications.
- Work with people to get the information you need.
This course is designed to broaden your understanding of the computer's role in private investigation. Don't be alarmed or put off by the occasional inclusion of technical terms and graphics. They are included to expose you to the type of information you will find in almost any manual or computer manual. Don't let acronyms and jargon put you off. You don't have to learn a whole new language to use a computer. In private investigation, you must have a starting point for your investigation. This course is your starting point on using computers in private investigations.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Explain the basic technology of personal computers.
- Describe the different types of personal computing systems.
- Discuss the importance of personal computer security issues
- Use online computer databases and the Internet
- Explain computer forensics.
- Discuss the importance of computer security
In this course, you will learn the basics of writing reports and reports for clients. You will learn how to deliver the type of investigative report your client needs and wants. This course describes the various ways in which you can report your investigation findings to your client. You will learn the advantages and disadvantages of various methods you will use to provide your customer with information. The private investigation report is the product your customer buys. Your report should reflect professionally conducted research; otherwise, your customer may not give you repeat business or recommend you. You will also learn the importance of determining what your customer expects from you and how you can meet your customer's reporting expectations.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Decide what type of report your customer needs or wants
- Follow an organized format
- Know when to verbally advise a client
- Use interim reports and final reports appropriately
- Determine the best reporting format to use for each case type
- Determine the best way to prepare a report.
This course focuses on two topics: locating people, sometimes known as jump tracking, and background investigations. Any of these specialties can help you get started in the survey business and then provide you with a profitable and profitable business. As people tracing and background investigations are an integral part of the private investigator's business and services, this course will provide a good foundation for much of your future work as an investigator.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Know the difference between routine and specific places
- Understanding the Power of the Uniform Commercial Code for Private Investigators
- Explain why the field of background investigations is growing.
- Discuss methods of approaching clients.
- List the information needed to conduct a background investigation
- Identify public records and how you can access them
- Explain the various parts of a credit report.
- Explain the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony
- Discuss the procedure for conducting a conviction history check
- Identify who to call and what to ask for employment verification
- Discuss issues related to workers compensation checks
- Describe procedures for checking with colleges, universities, and secondary schools regarding education.
- Explain the relevance of age discrimination.
- Discuss the method of accessing a motor vehicle record
- List the procedures for presenting the collected information to your customers
In this course you will learn what trained and untrained people see when they look at places, people, objects and
events. You will also learn a systematic approach to developing the essential information needed to successfully complete any investigation. A significant portion of this course deals with the collection of witness descriptions. You will learn how to work with these witnesses and how to interpret not only what they say, but also how they say it and what they do as they speak.By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Explain how the terms observation and description are related to investigations.
- List several factors that affect observation and description and describe how they operate.
- Describe a systematic approach to observing people, objects, events, and places.
- Describe a systematic approach to asking others for their observations and descriptions in interviews.
- Explain the importance of receiving timely descriptions from witnesses.
- Define the terms lineup, show-up and composite and explain their uses.
- Discuss the proper procedure for describing a vehicle.
- Explain how to establish a relationship with a witness.
- Discuss how to observe and interpret body language and how to recognize clues about whether a witness is
Lie or tell the truth
In this course, you will learn about the different types of cases that require surveillance by private investigators. Also, you will learn the different surveillance types, methods and techniques to use.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Plan, prepare, and run a surveillance task
- Describe the skills needed to successfully conduct surveillance.
- Explain how to use a combination of pedestrian and vehicle surveillance.
- Choose the appropriate surveillance clothing, vehicles, and cover suits.
- Explain the pros and cons of surveillance.
- Detect and defend against counter-surveillance
- Describe the essential elements of a surveillance report.
- Identify the types of photographic equipment used for surveillance.
- Explain covert photography techniques.
- Select appropriate observation posts, indoors and outdoors.
- Describe how to use coverages effectively in a variety of circumstances
- Explain the differences in rural and urban surveillance methods
- Name all types of information that are recorded in the surveillance log
- Describe how to choose and disguise surveillance vehicles page 9
- Explain the value and disadvantages of the "jump the frog" maneuver
- Explain special considerations for night watch.
- Describe what to do in many counter-surveillance situations
In this course, you will learn about some of the equipment that private investigators use in their profession, including operational equipment, surveillance equipment, evidence collection equipment, and security equipment. Some items are as simple and inexpensive as a tape measure, while others are specialized, highly technical, and expensive items like telephone analyzers. You will learn how to select and obtain the necessary equipment. You will learn about types of surveillance equipment, some training topics for using the equipment, and the importance of equipment maintenance.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Identify the parts of a 35mm single lens reflex (SLR) camera
- Describe the operational cycle in an SLR camera
- Choose the exposure settings you need to take good pictures
- Explain the uses of various film speeds and specialty films.
- Name a variety of lenses and their special uses.
- Explain how different types of light will affect photographs.
- Describe the equipment and procedure for ultraviolet fluorescent photography.
- Identify the types of filters used in photography.
- Discuss the pros and cons of using digital photography over film.
- Name the various formats of camcorders.
- Explain lighting requirements for filming.
- Identify lens and filter options for video recording
- List tips, care and general rules for using the equipment
This course will introduce you to the topic of physical evidence. The course will also describe some evidence collection procedures, provide examples of forensic analysis, and provide an introduction to expert witnesses. As a private investigator, you may become proficient in one or more specialized investigative areas and one day qualify as an expert in your own right. This course will describe how police should collect evidence from the crime scene, preserve it for the laboratory, and document it for submission to the court. Knowing the procedures the police must follow will help you know how to find useful evidence for your clients. The processing of evidence of arson and suspected arson will be discussed. Evidence of stolen vehicles such as erased serial numbers will be examined, as well as new techniques related to crime scene and vehicle reconstruction.
The material in this course will expand your understanding of evidence and how it is used in court. The information you collect as a private investigator is only valuable if it is used as evidence or leads to the discovery of other usable evidence. Even if a lawsuit is filed or a disputed insurance claim is settled out of court, the decision to do so may be based on the information you gathered as a private investigator. Therefore, the more knowledgeable you are about collecting and presenting evidence, the more likely you are to be successful in and out of court.
The course will also reveal some details of how expert witnesses are qualified and how they function in a trial. Through a series of examples, you will learn practical and successful applications of the skills, techniques and requirements described in this course. The best way to avoid problems with evidence is to fully understand how problems can occur and to develop confidence in your knowledge and skills to handle evidence correctly at all times. Completing this course will begin to build that confidence.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Explain how evidence is obtained, recorded, preserved and analyzed.
- Discuss procedures for processing an arson crime scene
- Explain how erased serial numbers can be restored on stolen vehicles
- Determine what you need to do to get the evidence admitted in court
- Describe how to obtain dental records and identify which records are important
- Define and describe expropriation.
- Discuss expert testimony
- Explain how to avoid certain legal pitfalls
- Discuss how to use evidence to reconstruct an accident or crime scene
- Explain what types of tests will provide answers to questions about vehicle theft and fraud.
In this course, you will learn about your relationship as a private investigator with the court system. You will be introduced to some of the ways a private investigator can work with the court system and how you can benefit from them as a business owner. You will learn about the functioning and procedures of civil and criminal trials. You will also find out how to prepare as a witness and what to do and what not to do when witnessing.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Discuss court-related matters
- Consider becoming a court official and/or being appointed by the court as
private investigator - Select appropriate procedures to use in civil and criminal cases
- Identify how to prepare to testify in a legal process
- Describe how to conduct yourself and how to present a professional image when witnessing
- Identify important terms and definitions associated with the legal system
This course presents historical and modern examples of undercover investigations. The personal characteristics necessary for you to perform secret tasks are analyzed. You will discover the sacrifices you must make to work in this field. It will examine how drug investigations have further raised the stakes for undercover work. You will also review management issues related to working undercover for a private investigator.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Describe how undercover investigations began and how they have changed
- Identify and describe the types of undercover investigators
- List the different types of undercover investigations you may be asked to conduct
- Discuss secret assignments with clients
- List the steps you would take to conduct an undercover investigation.
- Describe the personal characteristics of successful undercover investigators.
- Talk about what you should be prepared to do as an undercover investigator and how someone would be selected.
for multiple tasks - Discuss techniques used in undercover work.
- Set pretext and loop
- Discuss insertion methods
- Describe the difficulties faced by undercover investigators.
- Identify ethical issues and potential solutions an undercover investigator might face
You will learn that there are many ways to collect corporate data. There are ethical sources you can use to obtain data for a client, such as public documents, aerial photographs obtained from US federal agencies, online computer databases, and reverse engineering studies. The process of obtaining information from these lawful sources is known as corporate or competitive intelligence gathering. (In this course, the words competitive and corporate mean the same thing and are used interchangeably.) There are also many unethical and illegal ways to collect corporate data. These methods are commonly known as corporate espionage. This course looks at illegal and unethical sources such as stolen laptop hard drives, undercover employees, e-mail interceptions, fluid viewing, home invasions and dumpster searches. Additionally, this course will demonstrate how to implement counter-espionage measures to protect your corporate customers from data theft.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Explain the methods used to gather competitive intelligence.
- List the methods used to commit corporate espionage
- Describe counterintelligence measures
- Establish a counterintelligence and security program
- Discuss ethical issues associated with corporate/competitive intelligence gathering work
This course presents historical and current developments in homeland security. He suggests some possible ways that private investigation agency owners could serve this new area and expand their agencies, while providing a community service. The course suggests ways in which, as a private investigator, you can participate in and benefit from national security. He also exemplifies the kind of creativity needed to succeed as a private investigator. Homeland security is not a typical part of private investigation, or at least it hasn't been in the past. Due to its newness, this field can be a great opportunity for those interested in the field of private investigation and national security. This course describes ways private investigators can serve their communities and grow their homeland security businesses. Homeland security can provide effective and inexpensive marketing and public relations opportunities for private investigators. For researchers interested in security consulting, Homeland Security can be an introduction to this potentially rewarding field.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Describe the relationship between national security and private security.
- Compare the relationship of national security with private investigation
- Find sources of valuable training material
- Stay on top of developments in homeland security
- Organize speaking and public relations opportunities for your agency
- Help companies establish Corporate Emergency Recovery Teams, also known as BERTs.
This course introduces the procedures and techniques for conducting interviews and interrogations. You will learn about the different types of interviews and what is involved in interview planning. You will study the interview process. Then you will discover the difference between an interview and an interrogation. From this course, you will become familiar with interrogation techniques and legal matters. You will also learn about the polygraph test. This course will review interviewing, interrogation and truth-testing methods and equipment commonly used by investigators in the developed countries of the world.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Identify different types of interviews.
- Consider when it is appropriate to conduct an interview or questioning
- schedule an interview
- conduct an interview
- Discuss different techniques used to break down a person's resistance during an interrogation
- Evaluate an interview or interrogation in terms of usable evidence
- Discuss the legal considerations of the interrogation process.
- Evaluate the results of an interview and questioning
- Describe a polygraph exam
- Discuss the techniques used to interview witnesses.
- Identify behavioral characteristics in true, misleading, guilty, or innocent respondents
- Discuss techniques used to question an introverted or extroverted person
- Discuss the fundamentals of the polygraph test
This course introduces fingerprint and handwriting analysis. These two specialties, while related to private investigation, are not really a regular part of the private investigation business. Traditionally, the use of fingerprints has proven to be the most productive means of positively identifying individuals. Fingerprints have long been considered an ultimate goal in criminal investigations to discover an individual's identity. They also provide a positive means of identifying disaster victims and other deceased persons. Handwriting analysis has also been used for many years. While the basics remain constant, applying computers to the specialty has added many skills that must be mastered to become an expert handwriting analyst. This course will help you understand that fingerprinting and document scanning is not an end in itself. They are just tools to be used by investigators in their search for the truth.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Tell the story of digital printing
- Define latent fingerprints, friction fingerprints, and known fingerprints
- Discuss classification systems used to classify fingerprints.
- Explain how fingerprints fit into biometrics.
- Discuss how fingerprints are taken
- Recognize and describe digital printing equipment.
- Describe techniques for developing latent prints.
- Discuss examination of questioned documents
- Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of reviewing disputed documents
- Differentiate examiners of questioned documents from handwriting experts
- Give a brief history of handwriting analysis and its importance.
- Define a disputed document
- Recognize the importance of handwriting analysis and document examination in criminal, civil and administrative investigations.
- Describe and carry out the techniques necessary for the observation, collection and preservation of evidence involving questioned documents and, more specifically, the analysis of handwriting.
- Collect samples of formal and informal writing that will be accepted, by a court or competent authority, as the
handwriting of a given suspect for comparison with the contested handwriting - Submit a handwriting case to a qualified specialist for review
- Interpret the expert's findings.
- Develop a plan when additional examples are needed for identification or removal
This course will give you a working knowledge of firearms. In this course, you will learn about the history and development of firearms, safe handling practices, and when, if ever, a firearm should be used. Moral, ethical, legal and financial issues will be addressed so you can decide whether or not to arm yourself. Very few investigative jobs require a firearm or weapon of any kind. Most private investigators never require a firearm. On the other hand, security work related to executive protection often involves armed professionals. As you progress through this course, determine whether or not you should carry a firearm in your work as a private investigator. You should do your best to gain a working knowledge of all the things that can help or hurt you as a private investigator. Could be involved in investigative cases where knowledge of firearms is important. While you never need to defend yourself with a firearm, it's better to be knowledgeable than not to know about firearms. As you advance in your career as a private investigator, you may develop the fundamentals of firearms or specific procedures.
Firearms can play a critical role in your work as an investigator. If you study this course carefully, you will acquire your basic knowledge of firearms by the time you finish this course.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Identify the main types of firearms.
- Explain how to care for and maintain a firearm so that it will function properly.
- Identify federal firearm laws and describe how to find state and local laws to
the area where you live - Determine if you need any special licenses, including concealed carry
- Describe how to operate a firearm safely and how to store it properly
- Determine if and when you might need a firearm to do your job
- Describe and evaluate ballistic vests used for protection.
The purpose of this course is to make you aware of the skills required for executive protection and to help you understand this highly specialized branch of security. Executive protection involves investigation as part of the planning and protection process.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- List the various types of people who may need executive protection
- Discuss the differences between the individual bodyguard activity and executive protection, a team activity.
- Discuss the need for an adequate budget and adequate authority for executive protection
- Assess the risk of protecting a person
- Gather information about past threats to a principal
- Describe the type of relationship that exists between a bodyguard and a director
- Describe how a bodyguard should dress while on duty
- Summarize the various protection techniques used in public, at home, in hotels, airports, rallies and
in restaurants - Describe the various formations used when a director travels on foot.
- Discuss historical precedents for executive protection
- Explain the bodyguard's need for skills in firearms, batons, stun guns, martial arts, and chemical sprays.
- List the various types of twists used when transporting a principal by car
- Describe the function of a towing vehicle.
- Diagram of the arrangement of vehicles in a caravan
- Discuss booby traps and explosives and their methods of employment.
- Describe the problems of dealing with difficult customers.
In this course, you'll examine the types of thieves, how to spot them, and how a retail store can protect itself against would-be thieves. You'll also examine other ways that companies suffer losses: from employees, suppliers, and delivery people. You will see how people try to use credit cards and a wide variety of checks to dishonestly get money. Finally, you will review the booming computer industry and how this industry has opened the door to different types of theft and fraud.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Identify the different types of thieves
- Explain how a business can protect itself against theft, including good housekeeping, security systems,
and security - Describe the various ways in which vendors and delivery drivers can steal from their customers and methods for dealing with this theft.
- Identify ways employees can steal from their companies in the accounting department, payroll department, sales department, and shipping and receiving departments.
- Help companies make risk management decisions.
- Explain ways a business can prevent credit card fraud
- Define the different types of checks and how they are used in fraud
- Familiarize yourself with some computer theft methods and methods to control it.
- Explain how to provide protection for communications, company cars and vending machines.
In this course, you will learn about some important details to get a job and be successful in business. You'll learn why marketing and sales are crucial to your success as a private investigator, whether you're planning on starting a business on your own or working for someone else. Marketing and sales are discussed and explained in an effort to help you understand their importance. Your ability to effectively market and sell yourself is important not only for your career as a private investigator, but also in terms of everything you do in life. Since private investigators do not have the authority that police do, they must persuade witnesses and people with information to cooperate. A good private investigator needs to be a good salesperson. This course will review topics such as prospecting, proper appearance, pathways to certification, and licensing requirements in various states and provinces. You will learn how to prepare an application letter and resume and how to behave during an interview. You will discover the procedures for finding and applying for private investigator positions with a private investigation agency or corporation. You will be introduced to some of the dos and don'ts and requirements for starting your own business as a sole proprietorship private investigator. This course will inform you about the professional organizations you wish to affiliate with and the important topic of employer/employee relations. The knowledge gained in this course will help you maximize your earning potential, guiding you towards achieving a reputation as a professional. It all depends on your willingness and ability to learn what it takes to market yourself.
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Explain the difference between marketing and sales.
- Make good marketing decisions for you and your business
- Find additional material to learn more about selling
- Explain the importance of maintaining confidentiality.
- List some of the most prominent professional organizations in the field.
- Writing a cover letter and resume
- Describe the elements of a professional appearance and demeanor.
- Explain how to obtain a license as a researcher.
- Discuss how certification relates to becoming a private investigator
- Use the Phone Effectively to Contact Potential Employers
- Mentally prepare for a job interview
Note: We reserve the right to change program content and materials when necessary.