Dates

The class will meet every Friday evening from 6 to 9pm and Saturdays 9am to 5 pm for 4 ½ months beginning September 10th.  There are two Friday sessions that will meet 9am to 5pm.

Cost

The cost of the program is $2,895 which includes the cost of your materials.

Location

University of Dallas
1845 East Northgate Drive
Irving, Texas

Financial Assistance

Private Student loans are available from Sallie Mae.  To apply, follow these steps:

Go to www.salliemae.com.  Click on the orange "apply now" button.  Select Texas and then Professional Development Institute from the drop down menus.  Accept the terms and proceed with completing the application.

If you have any questions, please contact Tami Russell at 866.374.0876 or trussell@pdi.org.

Dates

The class will meet every Friday evening from 6 to 9pm and Saturdays 9am to 5 pm for 4 ½ months beginning August 20th.  There are two Friday sessions that will meet 9am to 5pm.

Cost

The cost of the program is $2,895 which includes the cost of your materials.

Location

Houston Baptist University
7502 Fondren Rd.
Houston, TX 77074

Financial Assistance

Private Student loans are available from Sallie Mae.  To apply, follow these steps:

Go to www.salliemae.com.  Click on the orange "apply now" button.  Select Texas and then Professional Development Institute from the drop down menus.  Accept the terms and proceed with completing the application.

If you have any questions, please contact Tami Russell at 866.374.0876 or trussell@pdi.org.

Foundations of Private Investigation and Professional Ethics

This course is an overview of private investigation as a profession. It covers the investigative process and the conduct, skills, and traits required of professional investigators.

Legal aspects of Private Investigations In Texas

This course covers principles of law and the role of private investigators. Students examine how cases proceed, as well as legal strategies, terminology and the investigator/attorney relationship.

Investigative Techniques & Research I

Library and public record searches are vital aspects of any investigation. Through a review of research practices and sources, as well as one Friday visit to public offices, students learn techniques and practices of Investigative Research, and discover the types of information available. Investigators must be skilled report writers. Clients require reports: background, surveillance, insurance fraud, locating missing people, etc. Learn how to produce professionaldocuments from successful investigators and case study review.

Investigative Techniques and Research II

Students will focus on conducting investigative interviews and on planning, conducting, recording, interpreting, and presenting the
results. Video and role playing will be used to reinforce interviewing behaviors and techniques. Internet intelligence is one of the newest skill areas for the investigator. This curriculum will expose students to both the tools and the methods for conducting investigative research online, including discussion and review of many database and registry sites and services. Students will learn best practices and real time in-class research will be performed.

Surveillance & Undercover Operations

Students will understand how observation and description are related to investigations. Highlights include sections on surveillance and undercover/covert operations.

Criminal Investigations I

Criminal investigations provide the basis for the field of private investigation. Students will learn precise and methodical techniques used in the careful collection of information and evidence in a criminal investigation. Heavy emphasis will be placed on understanding crime scene investigation, discovery, and court testimony. Students will also understand the critical importance of communication with law enforcement, civilians, professionals and other subjects in an investigation.

Civil/Insurance Investigations I

Civil investigations may be a consistent and extremely valuable portion of a successful private investigation practice. Students will differentiate and understand insurance, fraud, vehicle, product liability and police-involved investigations. There will be a focus on precise documentation and communication during the course of an investigation, in order to be prepared for court testimony. In addition, students will have the opportunity to attend and be licensed in civil process service for the state of Texas during this course.

Domestic and Family Investigations I

Domestic & family investigations are often the heart of a private investigation practice, and can include infidelity, missing persons, verification of records, and activity checks on children. Students will discuss the sensitive nature of all of these types of cases, review high profile examples and discuss positive business responses in these situations. Students will also discuss and prepare for the responsiveness, creativity and sensitivity that are usually needed in large amounts during these investigations.

Pre-Employment/Background/Corporate Investigations

Students will learn how they can help companies as well as individuals protect themselves in the marketplace and on the street.
Samples and live demonstrations of background investigations, generally performed on a potential employment candidate, will show students the types of information available in the market (identity, employment, education and professional background, etc).
Students will also review and understand the rules and regulations surrounding the obtaining of this information, how it is obtained and how it is then communicated effectively to the client. There will also be discussion surrounding the use of competitive intelligence for clients to enhance their business in the market.

PI Practice Management

This module allows students to explore what it takes to establish and structure a private investigation business, and how to work with clients and other professionals in the field. There will be in-depth review of Section 1702 of the Texas Occupation Code, the Rules and regulations of the Private Security Board and DPS. Client Interaction, creating partnerships and networks with law enforcement, other professional investigators, and those within the legal field are integral topics in this final seminar.

Special Topics in Private Investigations

Private investigation lends itself to specialization and niche markets. Students will have the opportunity to overview many of the most intriguing PI topics in our Special Topics Classes, with separate presentations on each individual topic. Topics may include:
Asset Investigations; Bail Enforcement Investigations; Beginning Photography & Media; Computer Crimes & Internet Investigations;
Executive Protection; Forensic & Crime Scene Investigation; Loss Prevention Basics and Physical Security; Missing Persons; SIU -
Accident Reconstruction; Fraud & Forensic Accounting; Arson Investigation; Nursing Home/Elder Care Investigations; and Electronic Countermeasures / TSCM / Debugging.

Process Server Training Program

This class will give the student the training and skills on becoming an effective process server. This class will cover the legal requirements to serve process in every county in Texas. This class will cover applicable laws, historical development, practical training on service and returns of service. This training will also cover exposure to criminal liability and service of process on family law cases. This course will meet the requirements of the Texas Supreme Court to serve process in Texas.

Scott H. Belshaw, Ph.D.

Executive Committee:
Chair/Executive Director
UNT/PDI Private Investigations Training Academy
University of North Texas
Dr. Scott H. Belshaw holds a Ph.D in Juvenile Criminal Justice and is Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of North Texas. He owned a private investigations firm licensed by the Texas Department of Public Safety and has employed and mentored numerous practicing private investigators. His primary investigative experience is in criminal investigations. He is an expert in the fi eld of criminal mitigation and investigations.

Karen Hewitt

Vice Chair
Private Investigator
Hewett and Cowden Investigations
Karen Hewitt is a graduate of UNT with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, and is a Texas Licensed Private Investigator. She spent four years as a criminal investigator specializing in Sexual and Physical Abuse of Children and  Adults, and four years as a staff investigator with a civil law fi rm. She graduated from East Texas Police Academy and has her Basic and Intermediate Peace Officer certificates. She has served as President and Chairman of the Board of Texas Association of Licensed Investigators, is a member of the Public Affairs and Community Service board of University of North Texas. She obtained the distinction of Texas Certified Investigator.

Kenneth Robertson

President
PDI
UNT Associate Vice President Ken Robertson serves as Chief Operating Officer for the Center for Achievement and Lifelong Learning and the Professional Development Institute. Mr. Robertson, originally from Maine, has a B.S. from Gorham State University and an MBA from the University of North Texas. He has been active with the American Society for Training and Development, the American Society of Association Executives and the UNT President's Council. Prior to joining the Professional Development Institute, Mr. Robertson held executive positions with the Moody Foundation in Galveston, the Texas Society of CPAs in Dallas, and organizations including Primedia and Voyager.

Scott Baldwin

Private Investigator
Advanced Investigative & Screening Solutions
Scott Baldwin is the owner of HoustonPi.com. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Military Police Academy and the U.S. Army Counterintelligence School. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminology from Louisiana State University and has been a licensed Texas Private Investigator since 1997.

Tim Quinn

Private Investigator
ConvergEbusiness
Tim Quinn has 19 years of experience in Human Resources, Recruiting, Investigation and Safety. Tim has focused on combining his skills as a recruiter and researcher in the fi eld of private investigation. He has worked with PI agencies focused on domestic, corporate and insurance investigations.

Jimmie Mesis

PI Magazine
Jimmie Mesis is one of the most recognized private investigators known throughout the U.S. and abroad, having proven his investigative and business skills since 1979. For the last 25 years he has created and sold numerous successful businesses including three investigative agencies generating over $5 million dollars of gross revenue. He owns a marketing consulting fi rm and several Internet based companies. He and his wife Rosemarie own PI Magazine. Jimmie also sits on the Board of Directors for the National Council of Investigation & Security Services (NCISS).

Peggy Tobolowsky,  J.D.

Professor/Chair
Department of Criminal justice
University of North Texas
Ex Officio Member
Peggy M. Tobolowsky is a Professor and the Chair of the Criminal Justice Department. She is also the faculty advisor for Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal Justice Honor Society. Professor Tobolowsky teaches law-related and policy-based courses in the Criminal Justice curriculum. Prior to joining the UNT faculty in 1989, her legal career included work as a federal prosecutor in the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and as a litigator at a major law firm with offices in Dallas, Texas, Washington, D.C., and several other cities. She received her Juris Doctor degree from George Washington University in 1977. Her research interests include criminal law and procedure, crime victim issues, capital punishment, and pretrial release. She has published Crime Victim Rights and Remedies, Understanding Victimology: Selected Readings, and numerous articles related to her research interests in journals such as the American Journal of Criminal Law, Judicature, the New England Journal on Criminal and Civil Confinement, and the Journal of Legislation.