Expect to be quoted anywhere from two to
five times as much as traditional private investigative services.
The simple reason for this is that the recurring costs are
substantially higher.
The tools, software suites that make it
possible to analyze otherwise unmanageably large data storage devices,
have to keep up with operating systems and applications which
themselves are constantly being upgraded, and no one tool to date can
accomplish all the necessary tasks. The tools are complex with a
very steep learning curve and thus require constant training.
Hardware, too, is costly. While a general practice private
investigator may be able to use a $1,000 camera for several years, a
computer forensic examiner feels fortunate to get more than a couple of
years out of a $3,000 desk-top computer (and even a small practice
requires several).
This agency's base rate is $200 per hour
plus expenses. Before issuing a final quote, however, we will
take the client's circumstances into account, and we offer a
substantial discount to criminal justice agencies. Work for
private parties requires an eight hour retainer with a minimum of four
hours billed. We will bill for target media at our cost if you
are not able to provide a suitable device.
Finally, we will consider pro bono work, particularly with regard to the safety of children under 18 years of age.
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