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To License Or Not To License Reexamined: An Updated Report On State Statutes Regarding Private Investigators And Digital Examiners, Thomas Lonardo, Alan Rea, Doug White

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

In this update to the 2012 year's study, the authors examine statutes that regulate, license, and enforce investigative functions in each US state. As before, the authors find that very few state statutes explicitly differentiate between Private Investigators and Digital Examiners. There is a small trend in which some states are changing definitions or moving to exempt DE from PI licensing requirements. However, we look at some additional information in terms of practicing attorney exemptions that may cloud the licensing waters.

As with the previous research studies (Lonardo et al., 2008, 2009, 2012) the authors contacted all state regulatory agencies …