We’ve written a brand new Surveillance course but Scott and I still haven’t come up with an outstanding title that works for what will be in depth and current course on everything a private investigator needs to know about surveillance.  The problem is that there are many books written about surveillance and we want our title to really stand out then let the course content do the rest.  The course outline can be found below.

Which leads me to announce our first contest!

We will award a $200 IRBstore.com gift certificate (http://IRBstore.com) to the investigator who submits what we feel is the best title for our new online Surveillance course.  We will also choose a runner-up winner and award him or her a free PIeducation.com course, an $89.95 value.

You can post your suggested titles in the comments section below or email them to me at info@pursuitmag.com. Be sure to leave your contact information too. Entries must be submitted to us before 5:00pm (CST) on Wednesday, January, 27 2010 in order to be eligible. On Thursday, January 28, 2009, we will announce the winner here on Pursuit Magazine and notify the winners by email.

If we end up using the winning title for the course, we will acknowledge the winner in the courses’ “acknowledgments and bibliography” section too.

Enter as many suggestions as you want but please do use Google to check whether the title is sufficiently original.   Remember, all entries must be submitted to us before 5:00pm (CST) on Wednesday, January, 27 2010.

Have fun, thank you and good luck!

Warmest Regards,
Stephanie Mitchell

Manager of Continuing Education and eLearning
http://www.pieducation.com

Managing Editor, Pursuit Magazine
http://www.pursuitmag.com

Surveillance Course Outline

INTRODUCTION TO SURVEILLANCE
The Surveillance Objective

PREPARING FOR THE SURVEILLANCE ASSIGNMENT
Pre-surveillance Investigations
Getting the Right Information from the Client
Choosing a Surveillance Vehicle
Necessary Surveillance Equipment and Gear

CONDUCTING SURVEILLANCE
Visual Surveillance
Mobile Surveillance
Tailing Methods and Tactics
Positioning and Setting Up
Rural Surveillance
Blending
Night Surveillance
Making Positive Identification of your Subject
Your Own Powers of Observation
Managing Confrontation
Being Approached by Law Enforcement
Courtesy Surveillance Notification
Pretexting
Pretext Scenarios and Examples
Counter Surveillance Indicators
Surveillance Tricks of the Trade
Summer Surveillance Considerations
Winter Surveillance Issues
Managing Emotional and Physical Stress
Improving Your Surveillance Product

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS
Investigative Notes
An Investigator’s Guide to Writing Well
The Surveillance Report
Writing Excellent Surveillance Reports
Emerging Internet Tools for Pre-Surveillance Checks and Surveillance Reports
Using Internet Mapping & Imaging in your Surveillance Report
Submitting the Final Report: Security, Compatibility and Portability

COLLECTING THE EVIDENCE & PREPARING FOR COURT
Laying a Foundation for Trial
What is allowed on Surveillance Video?
Editing Surveillance Video for Court
Editing Digital Photography for Court
Tips for the Surveillance Investigator Testifying in Court

NEW TECHNOLOGY AND SURVEILLANCE METHODS
Wireless and Remote Image Transmission Technology
GPS Tracking Devices
Surveillance over the Internet
Video over IP
Computer Monitoring

THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF SURVEILLANCE
Laws and Traffic Violations
Criminal Trespass
Use of Criminal Instrument
Interception of Communications
Use of Pen Register or Trap and Trace Device
Access to Stored Communications
Installation of Tracking Device
Disorderly Conduct
Obstructing Highway or Other Passageway
False Alarm or Report
Harassment
Stalking
Theft
Roping and Entrapment
Surveillance Case Law

Common Surveillance Terminology