To License or Not to License Revisited: An Examination of State Statutes Regarding Private Investigators and Digital Examiners¹

Thomas Lonardo
Gabelli College of Business
Roger Williams University
Bristol, RI

E-mail: tlonardo@rwu.edu

Doug White
FANS Center, School of Justice Studies
Roger Williams University
Bristol, RI
E-mail: dwhite@rwu.edu

Alan Rea
Haworth College of Business
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI
E-mail alan.rea@wmich.edu
(Corresponding Author)

ABSTRACT

In this update to the previous year's study, the authors examine statutes that regulate, license, and enforce investigative functions in each US state. After identification and review of Private Investigator licensing requirements, the authors find that very few state statutes explicitly differentiate between Private Investigators and Digital Examiners. After contacting all state agencies the authors present a distinct grouping organizing state approaches to professional Digital Examiner licensing. The authors conclude that states must differentiate between Private Investigator and Digital Examiner licensing requirements and oversight.

Keywords: Digital Examiner, Computer Forensics, State Statutes, Private Investigator, Licensing Requirements.

1. This paper was funded by the International Association of Forensic Computer Examiners [ISFCE] and the Forensics, Advanced Networking, and Security Laboratory [FANS] at Roger Williams University. To review the complete paper click here.