Section overview

Private investigators are required to make quick decisions in a variety of situations and must utilize good judgment. They need to recognize and appropriately handle ethical dilemmas relating to diversity, cultural differences and contemporary social problems. The trainer discusses the PSISA Code of Conduct and the concept of duty of care.

Suggested duration

In class: 2 hours
Outside class: 0 hours

Minimum requirements

  1. discuss relevant components of the Code of Conduct and explain the meaning of duty of care
  2. outline the following principles of decision-making
    • recognizing differences between relevant/irrelevant facts and details
    • making sound and defensible decisions supported by facts and research
    • making appropriate judgments suited to the time-frame, risks and facts of the case and potential hazards/dangers in the situation
    • prioritizing situations/decisions/tasks
    • drawing on legislation and laws to make decisions
    • preparing next logical steps required for a task/job
    • determining who should/should not have access to sensitive or confidential information/locations/people
    • recognizing ethical dilemmas
    • recognizing issues relating to diversity, cultural differences and contemporary social problems (e.g. stereotyping and discrimination)

Note: There are two components in this section: Code of Conduct, and Duty of care and decision-making.

Code of Conduct and duty of care

Outline

Private investigators need to be familiar with the Code of Conduct and the concept of duty of care, which outlines what a reasonable person should do in a particular situation. The trainer reviews the circumstances that require duty of care.

Working/detailed knowledge

Working

Suggested methodology

  1. pre-reading on the Code of Conduct and duty of care
  2. case studies with consequences that emphasize the importance of duty of care
  3. self-assessment - what would the student do in different situations?
  4. learning journal

Decision-making

Outline

Private investigators are required to make quick and ethical decisions and need to deal with issues of discrimination and prejudice in an unbiased manner. The trainer provides the student with an introduction to ethical reasoning and decision-making and addresses the following:

  • the theory of ethical reasoning and decision-making
  • recognizing patterns (situational awareness)
  • recognizing typicality and detecting anomalies
  • the effects and consequences of discrimination, prejudice and stereotyping.

Issues such as impartiality, conflict of interest, entrapment and other scenarios that require effective decision-making should be discussed.

Working/detailed knowledge

Detailed

Suggested methodology

  1. lecture on how to make decisions and conduct observations
  2. case studies with analysis and group discussion
  3. learning journal.

Suggested training evaluation for section

A quiz on the Code of Conduct, duty of care and the principles of decision-making.