INVESTIGATION PROTOCOLS

Before Investigation:

1. All investigators must be prepared for investigations.  This means that all equipment should be checked prior to arriving at the location. All members will be familiar with their equipment prior to investigating.  This means that our investigators will know how to troubleshoot, and operate their own equipment.
2. All team members must provide and maintain clean equipment.  We do this for safety and evidence purposes.  Clean the lens of the camera as well as ensure that all of your cords are properly coated.  All defunct equipment should be disposed of.
3. No drinking, or use of mind-altering drugs (prescription or otherwise) allowed during an investigation.  If you use a medication, inform the team leader prior to investigating.
4. Be on time!  If you are going to be late for an investigation, please inform the team leader prior to the investigation.
5. All members should arrive at an outdoor location (if permissible) early enough to be able to walk the location in daylight to learn the layout.
6. If you encounter fresh damage/vandalism at a site, document with photo evidence prior to beginning the investigation.  Report damage to team leader.
7. No cologne or perfume on investigations is allowed.  Ghosts can sometimes produce odors to identify themselves.  You do not want to have your cologne overpowering that type of phenomena.
8. Investigators must obtain permission from the appropriate property owner or authorities before entering anyone’s property.  Never trespass! If you are going in the name of PIRCOM, you must have permission from a team leader.
9. Investigations will usually not include more than ten (10) investigators at a time.  Members in good standing take priority in investigations. Team leaders have the exclusive right to decide which members attend an investigation and how many.
10. Illegal possession of a weapon during an investigation is unsafe and prohibited.
11. Guests of investigators are not permitted on any client investigation unless there is a special circumstance and both team leaders agree.
12. Correct uniform should be worn on all client investigations (PIRCOM shirt and I.D. tag are required).

During Investigation:

13. Never go anywhere alone!  We use pairs of investigators to ensure safety and security during an investigation for both our evidence and our investigators. Use the buddy system!
14. If multiple psychics are in attendance, tours will be conducted separately and always recorded for later comparison. Amount of investigators on these tours will be limited and should not include the client whenever possible.
15. Smoking is prohibited on client property.
16. Personal use of cell phones and texting is not appropriate during investigations except in cases of emergency.
17. If a personal break is needed, please move off of site. Note: Investigation will not be paused for your break. If you are late for an event such as the client or psychic tour, please do not join midway through. Recordings are tagged with who is there and late additions cause too many distractions.
18. Investigators should not engage in conversations with the client. If approached, ask client to save all of their questions for after the investigation and then return to assignment as quickly as possible.
19. Always be respectful of your fellow team members, location in which you are investigating, and the client who was kind enough to invite and trust the group enough to share their homes and experiences.
20. Maintain a professional attitude while on an investigation.  Always be in an attitude of reverence and respect.
21. Disagreements should be taken aside, not argued in front of any client or the team.
22. Never speak poorly or complain about a fellow investigator behind their back. If you have a concern, talk directly to that person privately. If no resolution is reached, report to a team leader. If problem involves a team leader, bring in a third party to mediate.
23. Members must remember that they are representing PIRCOM and act in a manner that commands respect!

During Evidence Collection:

24. Investigators should stay in/near assigned area unless otherwise permitted so as not to tamper with other investigators or recording equipment.
25. Always announce your presence coming and going from an area with pre-set recording equipment.
26. Always look for a natural explanation prior to a supernatural explanation.  Almost all hauntings can be explained by natural causes.
27. Members should not take photos into reflective surfaces such as metallic or glass objects.  These objects can cause light refractions in the camera lens and thus create pseudo-anomalous evidence in photos. Please remember to say ‘Flash’ when you are about to take a photo in the dark to warn team members.
28. No member should take photographs during bad weather such as snow, rain, or fog-because particles in the air can cause anomalous evidence with cameras due to light refraction.
29. If you notice an anomaly in a photograph or unexplainable sound, try to debunk immediately before continuing on with investigation.
30. All members will speak in a controlled, but audible volume when on an investigation.  NO WHISPERING! When EVP’s are being recorded, all members must either remain silent or speak in normal tones.
31. Tag all audio recordings! If you hear an explainable noise, explain it on the recorder so voices, whispers, bangs, etc…will not be mistaken as EVP’s during evidence review.
32. If two members claim to have experienced something during an investigation, it is recommended that the two write down their own accounts separately as soon as possible.  Following the investigation, it is recommended that the members seek out a third party to compare these written experiences.

Following Investigation:

33. Members should not report any findings to client. Direct all client questions to team leaders.
34. All members should plan on reviewing and submitting their evidence to the team leader within one week unless otherwise specified.
35. Our investigators are bound by client confidentiality and will not discuss private investigations with the general public, unless or until a complete release waiver has been signed by the client giving us full permission.
36. Any data and/or information (including but not limited to photos, videos, and audio) obtained on an official investigation are co-property of the individual investigator who gathered it and PIRCOM.  In the event a member leaves PIRCOM, all materials shall remain co-property.  Any materials former members gathered while active members of PIRCOM may be used by PIRCOM as the group sees fit.  Former members DO NOT have any rights to materials gathered by other members of PIRCOM and will remain PIRCOM property. All cases are the property of PIRCOM and cannot be used as a part of another group. If PIRCOM ceases to exist, all materials will remain the property of the individual investigators who gathered it. All cases will remain PIRCOM property.
37. PIRCOM reserves the right to change, amend, and add to this list of standards as needed. It is the duty of all members to actively know these rules and stay updated with official modifications.

General Reminders:

38. Members should not speak negatively of any other paranormal group. Remember, if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all! 
39. ‘Drama’ between team members will not be tolerated and may result in discontinuation of membership for one or both parties involved. We work as a team and will do whatever necessary to continue peacefully and professionally.
40. Feel the need to give a gentle reminder? Use the phrase “Come correct. Remember our protocol.”

 Updated: 10/19/13