Surveillance & Field Investigations

Professional Observation. Clear Documentation.

Surveillance can provide independent documentation of activities, movements, locations, interactions, and other observable circumstances relevant to an investigation.

Cochran & Co. conducts surveillance and field investigations for individuals, attorneys, businesses, and other appropriate clients. Each assignment is based on a defined investigative objective and conducted according to the authorized scope, circumstances encountered, and lawful professional judgment of the investigator.

The purpose of surveillance is not simply to follow someone. It is to observe and document information relevant to a legitimate investigative objective.

Request a Consultation

When Surveillance May Be Appropriate

Surveillance may be useful when relevant information depends on activities or circumstances that can be lawfully observed.

Assignments may involve matters such as:

Child custody and family concerns
Suspected infidelity or relationship matters
Verification of activities or circumstances relevant to a legal matter
Attorney-directed investigative assignments
Business or professional matters involving legitimate investigative objectives
Other situations in which independent observation and documentation may provide useful information

Cochran & Co. reviews the objective and circumstances before accepting a surveillance assignment.

How Surveillance Works

Effective surveillance depends on more than simply placing an investigator at a location.

Before fieldwork begins, Cochran & Co. considers the investigative objective, available identifying information, known locations, relevant schedules or patterns, anticipated activity, environmental conditions, and other information that may affect the assignment.

During surveillance, the investigator documents relevant observations and adapts field decisions to circumstances as they develop.

Depending on the assignment and what can lawfully and reasonably be obtained, documentation may include contemporaneous investigative notes, photographs, video, location information, chronological activity summaries, and written reporting.

Surveillance Is Evidence of What Was Observed

Surveillance has limits.

An investigator cannot guarantee that anticipated activity will occur during the period of observation. A subject may remain inside a private location, change routines, travel unexpectedly, or simply not engage in the activity the client anticipated.

Cochran & Co. documents what occurs during the authorized surveillance period.

Observed activity is reported as observation. Information supplied by another person is identified accordingly. Supported investigative inferences are distinguished from direct observation, and information that cannot be verified is not presented as established fact.

Field Investigations

Not every assignment is traditional surveillance.

Cochran & Co. may also conduct appropriate field investigative activity involving locations, events, individuals, or circumstances relevant to an authorized investigation.

Depending on the matter, fieldwork may include:

Site or location observations
Field verification of relevant information
Investigative inquiries
Attempts to locate individuals or addresses
Documentation of observable conditions
Other assignment-specific investigative activity

The appropriate method depends on the objective and circumstances of the case.

Photographs, Video & Reporting

When photographs or video are lawfully and appropriately obtained during an investigation, they may become part of the investigative case record.

Original investigative media is preserved separately from edited, cropped, enhanced, annotated, or otherwise derivative versions when applicable.

Reporting may include chronological descriptions of relevant investigative activity, observations, supporting photographs or video references, and other information appropriate to the assignment.

Discreet Does Not Mean Unlimited

Private investigators must operate within the law.

Cochran & Co. does not claim authority to trespass, unlawfully access private property or protected information, intercept private communications, or use prohibited investigative methods simply because information may be useful to a client.

The investigative objective guides the work. It does not override legal or professional boundaries.

Discuss a Surveillance Assignment

Useful surveillance begins with a clear objective and good preliminary information.

When contacting Cochran & Co., be prepared to explain what you are trying to understand or document and provide relevant information already available about the circumstances.

Cochran & Co. can evaluate whether surveillance or another investigative method is appropriate and discuss potential scope, applicable rates, anticipated costs, and engagement requirements.

Submitting an inquiry does not guarantee case acceptance or that surveillance will produce a particular finding.