Question 1

What areas does Brooks Detective Agency cover for JAC criminal defense investigations?

Accepted Answer

Brooks Detective Agency provides JAC criminal defense investigation support in multiple Florida circuits and counties, including:

6th Judicial Circuit: Pasco County and Pinellas County
12th Judicial Circuit: DeSoto County, Manatee County, and Sarasota County
13th Judicial Circuit: Hillsborough County
20th Judicial Circuit: Charlotte County, Collier County, Glades County, Hendry County, and Lee County

Services may include witness location, witness interviews, discovery review, body camera review, police report review, recorded interview review, background research, timeline review, and factual investigation requested by defense counsel.

Question 2

Does Brooks Detective Agency have a JAC Due Process Contract?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Brooks Detective Agency has a Florida JAC Due Process Contract authorizing direct payment for eligible due process investigative services through JAC.

This means Brooks Detective Agency can assist with eligible criminal defense investigative services when the case qualifies, the attorney requests investigative work, and the court properly authorizes private investigator services by order.

Question 3

Can any attorney request a JAC criminal defense investigator in Florida?

Accepted Answer

Not every private criminal defense case qualifies for JAC-paid investigator services.

JAC investigator services are generally connected to qualifying court-appointed criminal defense cases or indigent-for-costs matters where private investigator services are authorized by court order.

A private court-appointed attorney or a private attorney whose client has been declared indigent for costs may request investigator services when investigation is necessary for the defense.

If approved, the court enters an order authorizing the investigator, rate, and maximum amount or hour cap.

Question 4

What is the difference between court-appointed and indigent-for-costs?

Accepted Answer

A court-appointed case generally means the defendant qualified for appointed counsel. Sometimes the Public Defender handles the case. Other times, a private attorney may be appointed, such as when there is a conflict.

An indigent-for-costs case is different. A defendant may have a private attorney but be unable to afford necessary defense costs, such as an investigator, expert, interpreter, transcript, or other due process expense. If the court finds the defendant indigent for costs, the attorney may request court authorization for those services.

For Brooks Detective Agency, the key issue is whether private investigator services have been properly authorized by court order and whether the case is eligible for payment through the JAC due process process.

Question 5

What types of criminal defense cases can involve a JAC investigator?

Accepted Answer

A JAC investigator may be used in qualifying court-appointed or indigent-for-costs criminal defense cases when investigator services are properly authorized.

These matters may include serious felony cases, homicide investigations, sexual offense allegations, violent crime allegations, DUI-related criminal traffic cases, misdemeanor cases, violation of probation matters, juvenile delinquency cases, appeals, and certain post-conviction matters.

JAC-paid investigator services are not automatic. The attorney generally must request authorization, and the court must approve private investigator services before the investigator begins work.

Question 6

Can a JAC investigator assist with DUI or criminal traffic cases?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when the case qualifies and investigator services are properly authorized by court order. DUI and criminal traffic cases may involve factual issues that require investigation, such as traffic stop details, officer observations, body camera footage, dash camera footage, field sobriety observations, witnesses, location issues, timelines, and possible discrepancies between written reports and video evidence.

Brooks Detective Agency can assist defense counsel with DUI-related and criminal traffic investigations when investigator services are properly authorized.

Question 7

Can a JAC investigator assist with homicide or serious felony cases?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when the case qualifies and investigator services are properly authorized by court order. Serious felony and homicide cases may involve extensive discovery, multiple witnesses, recorded interviews, law enforcement reports, body camera footage, scene information, timelines, and other materials that need careful review.

Brooks Detective Agency can assist defense counsel by locating witnesses, interviewing witnesses, reviewing discovery, identifying missing information, comparing reports to video or audio evidence, and documenting factual issues that may require follow-up.

Question 8

What does a criminal defense investigator look for in a case?

Accepted Answer

A criminal defense investigator looks for facts, missing information, and discrepancies that may help the defense attorney better understand the case. This can include comparing police reports to body camera footage, recorded interviews, 911 calls, photographs, witness statements, and other discovery to see whether the evidence matches what was written in the reports.

A defense investigator may also look for missing discovery, witnesses who were not interviewed, statements that changed over time, timeline problems, location issues, possible bias, and facts that need further investigation.

Question 9

Can a defense investigator review body camera footage and recorded interviews?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A defense investigator may review body camera footage, dash camera footage, recorded interviews, 911 calls, photographs, police reports, and other discovery provided by defense counsel.

This review can help identify reports that do not match video, statements that changed over time, missing discovery, witnesses who were not interviewed, and timeline issues.

Question 10

Who provides discovery to the investigator in a JAC case?

Accepted Answer

The defense attorney provides the discovery, reports, videos, statements, and case materials the investigator needs to review.

JAC is involved with the due process payment and compliance process, but the attorney directs the investigation and provides the materials needed for the assignment.

Question 11

What should an attorney provide before investigative work begins?

Accepted Answer

Before work begins, the attorney should provide the signed court order authorizing investigator services, case name, case number, county, defendant name, approved rate, approved hour limit or cap, scope of work, deadlines, and the discovery or reports to be reviewed.

The signed order is important because investigator services must be properly authorized before work begins.

Question 12

Can Brooks Detective Agency interview reluctant witnesses?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Brooks Detective Agency can attempt to contact reluctant witnesses in a respectful and professional manner.

If a witness is willing to speak, the information can be documented and reported to defense counsel. If a witness refuses to speak, that refusal can also be documented.

Witnesses are not forced or pressured to provide voluntary statements.

The goal is to professionally determine whether the witness is willing to provide information and to document the result for the attorney.

Question 13

Can Brooks Detective Agency help with Spanish-speaking witnesses?

Accepted Answer

Brooks Detective Agency can assist with Spanish-speaking witnesses when appropriate.

For basic communication, translation tools may be used when suitable.

For detailed or case-critical interviews, the attorney may decide to use a qualified interpreter to help ensure accuracy.

Interpreter needs should be addressed by counsel before the interview when accuracy is important.

Question 14

How does billing work for JAC investigator services?

Accepted Answer

Brooks Detective Agency submits itemized investigator billing through MyJAC for eligible investigative services performed under a JAC Due Process Contract.

Billing entries are based on actual time worked and should be documented by date, type of service, time spent, and a description of the work performed.

For document review, billing descriptions should identify the type of documents reviewed and the approximate number of pages.

For audio, video, or other media, billing descriptions should identify the approximate length of the media reviewed.

Question 15

What is the JAC investigator hourly rate?

Accepted Answer

The current JAC rate for a Florida Class C private investigator is $50 per hour.

The rate and approved maximum amount should be confirmed by the court order and MyJAC case information before work begins.

Question 16

How can an attorney hire Brooks Detective Agency for a JAC criminal defense case?

Accepted Answer

An attorney can contact Brooks Detective Agency with the case information, county, circuit, scope of work, deadlines, and whether a court order has already been entered authorizing investigator services.

For JAC, court-appointed, or indigent-for-costs matters, the attorney should provide the signed order, approved rate, approved hour limit or cap, case information, and any reports, discovery, videos, or witness information that should be reviewed before investigative work begins.

Brooks Detective Agency provides JAC criminal defense investigation support in multiple Florida circuits and counties, including:

6th Judicial Circuit: Pasco County and Pinellas County
12th Judicial Circuit: DeSoto County, Manatee County, and Sarasota County
13th Judicial Circuit: Hillsborough County
20th Judicial Circuit: Charlotte County, Collier County, Glades County, Hendry County, and Lee County

Question 17

How are JAC investigator invoices submitted?

Accepted Answer

Brooks Detective Agency submits JAC investigator invoices through MyJAC, JAC’s online billing system.

For eligible due process investigative services, we prepare an itemized billing packet with the required case information, service dates, type of work performed, time billed in tenths of an hour, service descriptions, total amount billed, and the court order authorizing investigator services.

After the billing packet is prepared in MyJAC, defense counsel reviews and certifies the invoice before it is submitted to JAC for processing.

Billing is not considered received by JAC until attorney certification and submission are complete.

For discovery review, Brooks Detective Agency documents the type of materials reviewed and approximate number of pages. For body camera footage, recorded interviews, 911 calls, or other media, we document the approximate length of the media reviewed. This helps maintain clear, organized billing records for JAC review.

Question 18

Does Brooks Detective Agency take criminal defense cases that are not through JAC?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Brooks Detective Agency accepts both private criminal defense investigations and properly authorized JAC, court-appointed, and indigent-for-costs criminal defense matters.

Not every criminal defense case goes through JAC. Private attorneys, defendants, and families may hire Brooks Detective Agency directly for criminal defense investigative support when appropriate.

Services may include witness location, witness interviews, discovery review, police report review, body camera review, recorded interview review, background research, scene checks, timeline review, and factual investigation.

For private criminal defense cases, fees, scope of work, retainers, and deadlines are discussed before work begins.

For JAC matters, investigator services must be properly authorized by court order and handled through the JAC due process billing process.

JAC Criminal Defense Investigator in Sarasota County

Serving Sarasota County and the 12th Judicial Circuit

High-Stakes Felony Support for Sarasota, Venice, and the 12th Judicial Circuit

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JAC Due Process Contract for Eligible Defense Investigation Services

Services for Court-Appointed and Indigent-for-Costs Cases

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Discovery Review, Body Camera Review, and Police Report Discrepancies

Serious Felony, DUI, and Criminal Traffic Defense Investigations

How Attorneys Can Use Brooks Detective Agency for JAC Criminal Defense Cases

JAC Billing Descriptions and Documentation

JAC Billing Descriptions and Documentation

Counsel Resources: JAC Motions & Case Opening

Brooks Detective Agency has a Florida JAC Due Process Contract authorizing direct payment for eligible due process investigative services through JAC.

To streamline the appointment process for Court-Appointed or Indigent for Costs (IFC) cases, please follow the 2026 JAC guidelines below:

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1. The Appointment Process

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2. Privately Retained (IFC) Requirements

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Direct Billing & Accountability

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Counsel Resources: Official 2026 JAC Links

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JAC Criminal Defense Investigator FAQ