Update) PI Law & Ethics | Q&A | Grade A | 100% Correct (Verified
Answers) – Private Investigator Program
Subject: CLEET Phase 3 – Private Investigator Licensing (Oklahoma)
Source: Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training – PI Statutes, Ethics, and
Procedures
Format: Q&A Guide with Rationale | All Questions Exhausted
Total questions: 28 (every question from raw data)
1: The following is not a topic that requires confidentiality:
Correct Answer: Your career history
1. Confidentiality in private investigation covers client information, case details, investigative methods, and
findings. Career history (past employment, education) is generally public or professional information that
does not require the same level of protection.
2. Information that MUST remain confidential includes: client identity, case strategy, surveillance locations,
sources of information, and any data protected by privacy laws.
3. Career history may be disclosed on resumes, licensing applications, or professional networking without
violating confidentiality obligations.
2: The relationship between you and your client is one of:
Correct Answer: Mutual benefit
1. The PI-client relationship is based on mutual benefit: the client receives investigative services to solve a
problem, and the PI receives compensation and professional satisfaction.
2. This is a contractual relationship governed by written agreements, ethics, and applicable laws.
3. Unlike fiduciary relationships with higher duties, PI-client is arms-length but still requires good faith and
confidentiality.
3: Possible consequence for failing to maintain confidentiality:
Correct Answer: Damage to your professional reputation
1. Breach of confidentiality harms the PI's reputation, leading to loss of trust, fewer referrals, and potential
loss of CLEET license.
2. Additional consequences: civil lawsuits (damages for privacy violations), criminal penalties (if protected
information is disclosed illegally), and disciplinary action by CLEET.
3. Reputational damage is often the most immediate and long-lasting consequence in the investigative
profession.
4: Guideline for maintaining the confidence of clients and others:
Correct Answer: Release only the information that your client authorizes you to release
1. The core principle of confidentiality: obtain written authorization from the client before disclosing any
case information to third parties.
2. Exceptions: court orders, subpoenas (after notifying client), mandatory reporting laws (child abuse,
threats of violence), and CLEET investigations.
3. When in doubt, consult legal counsel before releasing any information.
, 5: True or false: your reports should summarize your results, so that your client can take
any further action necessary to solve the problem.
Correct Answer: True
1. Investigative reports must present clear, actionable findings that allow the client (attorney, insurance
company, business) to make informed decisions.
2. Summaries should highlight key evidence, witness statements, surveillance results, and
recommendations.
3. Reports should be objective, factual, and avoid speculation, while still providing useful conclusions.
6: True or false: your reports serve as a record of your performance and describe the
results of your investigation for your client and others.
Correct Answer: True
1. Reports document the PI's work product and serve as a permanent record of investigative activities,
findings, and conclusions.
2. Reports may be used in court proceedings, arbitrations, or internal reviews; therefore they must be
accurate, complete, and timely.
3. A well-written report also demonstrates the PI's competence and professionalism to the client.
7: True or false: legal is a characteristic of a good report.
Correct Answer: False
1. Key characteristics of a good investigative report: accurate, clear, concise, complete, objective, timely,
and properly documented. "Legal" is not a listed characteristic; reports must be lawful, but that is a
requirement, not a descriptive characteristic.
2. Some sources list characteristics as: factual, logical, unbiased, well-organized, grammatically correct, and
signed/dated.
3. While reports must comply with laws, "legal" is not a standard characteristic taught in report writing
courses.
8: True or false: case reports record your daily activities and includes elements of the other
types of reports.
Correct Answer: True
1. Case reports (or activity logs) document daily investigative actions: surveillance hours, interviews
conducted, locations visited, communications made.
2. These logs incorporate elements from time reports, expense reports, and progress reports, serving as a
master record.
3. Case reports are essential for billing, legal defense, and reconstructing investigative chronology.
9: When writing written agreements, you should be careful not to unnecessarily restrict
your working options or those of your client by:
Correct Answer: By putting every detail in writing
1. While written agreements are essential, overly detailed contracts can restrict flexibility. For example,
specifying exact hourly schedules, limiting investigatory methods, or requiring client approval for every
step can impede effective investigation.
2. Best practice: include scope of work, fees, confidentiality, and termination clauses, but leave reasonable
discretion for the PI to determine methods and schedule.
3. Balance specificity with operational flexibility to protect both parties' interests.