Professional Investigations: Ethical Considerations for the Professional Investigator

This article is adapted from various articles that have been introduced as a single topic and read in newsletters and magazines of multiple associations throughout the United States and internationally. The value and importance of our professional ethics cannot be overstated. Ethics are often seen as morals, they are not, though one will impact the other. Morals behavioral guides that are personal and individualistic. Ethics are rules of behavior for an individual through a group – such as an association or profession. Because of the importance of ethics, this article will always be free to our colleagues and continue to be included, in relevant form, in all of our books or comprehensive articles. It is often said that a professional is only different from their adversary because of the morals and ethics, and using their honed skills for the betterment of others and not themselves. The same is true of professional investigators. Our goal for this article, and all that we do with our articles, books, courses and social networking, is to do what was not done for me when I started – sharing useful and valuable information that will benefit you as a professional.