Practice guides
Plain-language summaries of the federal laws, rules, and court decisions that most often shape investigative work. Each guide links to the official text and was checked against it. They are general information, not legal advice.
The Driver’s Privacy Protection Act
Who may obtain personal information from state motor vehicle records, the permissible uses that matter to licensed investigators, record-keeping, and penalties.
GLBA pretexting provisions
Why obtaining financial account information by false statements is a federal crime, and the narrow exceptions in 15 U.S.C. 6821.
The FCRA for investigators
When background work becomes a consumer report, the duties for investigative consumer reports, and the exclusion for employee misconduct investigations.
Recording consent: one-party and all-party
The federal one-party rule and the states that require the consent of all parties, each linked to its statute.
Brady and Giglio
What the prosecution’s duty to disclose favorable and impeachment evidence means for investigators, officers, and forensic examiners.
Expert testimony and Rule 702
How Rule 702, as amended December 1, 2023, and the Daubert and Kumho Tire decisions decide whether expert opinion reaches the jury.
Garrity and compelled statements
When public employees must answer in internal investigations, and why compelled answers cannot be used against them in a criminal case.
The Freedom of Information Act
How to request federal agency records: the nine exemptions, fee categories, deadlines, and appeals.
Location tracking and phones
What Jones, Riley, and Carpenter require of police, and the state tracking laws that bind private investigators.
These guides are general information, not legal advice. USCLI is not a government agency. To suggest a correction or a new guide, write to contact@uscli.org.
Last updated October 15, 2026Source: United States Council for Law & Investigation