Code of Ethics

The Colorado Society of Private Investigators is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence through exceptional professional standards, lifelong learning, and ethical responsibility to its members, clients, and the public.

  1. A member shall provide professional services in accordance with local, state and federal laws.
  2. A member shall safeguard client information and exercise the utmost care to prevent any unauthorized disclosure of such information.
  3. A member shall never knowingly defame the professional reputation or practice of colleagues, or members of CSPI.
  4. A member shall provide truthful, accurate, factual reports to clients.
  5. A member will counsel clients against any illegal course of action.
  6. A member will explain to the best of their ability all fees and expenses reflected on client invoices.
  7. A member will make no claim to professional qualifications they do not possess.
  8. All licensed Colorado Private Investigators, pursuant to Article 58.5 of Title XII, must adhere to the “Private Investigator licensing rules and regulations.”

BYLAWS of the COLORADO SOCIETY OF PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be The Colorado Society of Private Investigators.

 

ARTICLE II. PRINCIPAL OFFICE

The principal office of the Society shall be at a location designated by the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE III. PURPOSE

The Colorado Society of Private Investigators is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence through exceptional professional standards, lifelong learning, and ethical responsibility to our members, to our clients, and to the public.

 

ARTICLE IV. MEMBERS

Section 1. Membership.

Membership shall be open to private investigators and to those with an interest in the private investigation profession who will support the CSPI mission statement and the Code of Ethics.

Section 2. Membership Eligibility and Admission Procedure.

An applicant must complete and submit the membership application with all required information. The Board of Directors shall approve or deny the application.

Section 3. Classifications.

A. Professional Member

1. Any private investigator who maintains a Colorado Private Investigator license issued by the state of Colorado can hold office, can vote, and has ListServ privileges.

B. Associate Member

1. Any person engaged in the business of process serving whose primary residence and business is located in the state of Colorado and is in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office; or,

2. Any person who maintains an active private investigation license in another state and is in good standing with that state’s licensing authority.

3. Associate Members have listserv privileges and can vote and hold office.

C. Affiliate Member

1. Any person 21 years or older whose primary residence is located in the state of Colorado and has an interest in the private investigation profession, however, does not meet the requirements of either the professional or associate member. Affiliate members are entitled to ListServ privileges, however, cannot vote or hold office.

D. Vendor

1. Any person or business providing a service or product to the investigative industry. Private investigators may list products for sale and educational opportunities, but not investigation services.

2. Vendors, unless a professional or an associate member of the Society, cannot vote, hold office, and do not have listserv privileges.

Section 4. Dues.

The dues shall be set by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 5. Good Standing.

A member in good standing shall be one whose current dues have been paid in accordance with the provisions of the policies and procedures and who is not under CSPI disciplinary action. Only Professional and Associate Members in good standing may vote, hold an elected position, or chair a committee.

 

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 1. Officers.

Elected officers of The Colorado Society of Private Investigators shall be President and Secretary/Treasurer, and may include a Vice President.

 

The President shall

1. Be the chief executive officer and official spokesperson of The Colorado Society of Private Investigators;

2. Enter into agreements on behalf of the Society, with the approval of the Board;

3. Appoint all committees;

4. Appoint, with the approval of the Board of Directors, a Financial Review Committee;

5. Be an ex-officio member of all committees with the exception of the Nominations Committee;

6. Perform such other duties as these bylaws or the Board of Directors shall assign.

 

The Secretary/Treasurer shall

1. Be responsible for the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors, and all meetings of the general membership;

2. Supervise custody of the records of the Society;

3. Attest documents as necessary;

4. Perform such other duties as the President or Board shall designate.

5. Pay all budgeted expenses;

6. File required reports with the IRS and other governmental bodies;

7. Make the financial records available for an annual review;

8. Perform such other duties the President or Board of Directors shall designate.

 

Section 2. Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors shall consist of the President and Secretary/Treasurer and if warranted can appoint no more than ten board members. The Board of Directors shall be the policy-making body of the Society and shall exercise all powers and perform all duties not vested by these bylaws.

 

Section 3. Meetings

The Board of Directors shall hold at least one (1) meeting annually.

 

Section 4. Quorum

A majority of directors shall constitute a quorum for transacting business at any meeting.

 

Section 5. Budgets

The Board of Directors shall establish an annual operating budget.

 

Section 6. Voting

A vote by e-mail may be taken when necessary. Action taken shall be verified and made a part of the minutes of the next session of the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE VI. NOMINATIONS, ELECTIONS, AND TERMS OF OFFICE

Section 1. Nominations.

Nominations Committee. The Nominations Committee shall make nominations for the officers for which elections are to be held.

1. The Nominations Committee shall ensure that all nominees are eligible for election.

2. Prior to preparing the voting ballot, the Nominations Committee shall issue a Call for Nominations. Nominations shall be solicited from the membership.

 

Section 2. Elections.

Balloting. The Nominations Committee shall prepare a ballot for voting and assure that all eligible voters are informed.

 

Section 3: Terms of Office.

Officers shall serve six (6) years beginning on the first day of January following the election.

 

ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS

Section 1. Annual Business Meeting.

The President shall call an annual business meeting, which will be held at a date and location to be determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Special Meetings.

Special meetings may be called by the President, by the Board of Directors, or by written request of 10 voting members of the Society. The purpose of meetings shall be stated in the notice. Except in cases of emergency, at least three days’ notice shall be given.

 

ARTICLE VIII. COMMITTEES

The President and the Board may establish committees as deemed necessary.

 

ARTICLE IX. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the proceedings of The Colorado Society of Private Investigators in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order that may be adopted.

 

ARTICLE X. AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

The Board of Directors may amend the bylaws at any time.

 

ARTICLE XI. DISSOLUTION

In the event of dissolution, all assets shall be assigned by the Board of Directors to qualifying nonprofit organizations in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. No assets shall benefit individual members of CSPI.

Policies and Procedures

Membership

All applicants shall be at least 21 years old. All applications for membership must be made on the CSPI membership application. Each application must be fully completed and accompanied by the first year’s annual dues as determined by the Board. The Board will review the background investigation and vote to accept, deny or request additional information. Applicants will be notified of acceptance or the denial of his/her membership application by the President.  If approved, an announcement will be made at the next general monthly meeting and will be posted to the membership. Past members whose membership has lapsed more than one year will be required to reapply for membership.

Denial of Applications for Membership

 

FELONY CONVICTION.

A conviction of any felony in any state may be grounds for rejection of application for membership at any level. Mitigating facts or circumstances may be submitted by the applicant as part of the application and may be considered by the Board of Directors.

 

MISDEMEANOR CONVICTION

A conviction of any misdemeanor offense in any state may be grounds for rejection for an application for membership at any level. A conviction of any unclassified misdemeanor may also be grounds for rejection of an application for membership at any level if such conviction demonstrates a pattern of conduct deemed detrimental to the best interests of CSPI. Mitigating facts or circumstances may be submitted by the applicant as part of the application and may be considered by the Board of Directors.

 

OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES

It is the intent of the Policies and Procedures of the CSPI with respect to membership applicants that any factor or circumstances not specifically set forth herein that could be detrimental to the best interests of the CSPI may be considered as weighing against acceptance.

 

NOTIFICATION OF DENIAL

The president or designee will send by certified US Mail a letter notifying an applicant that his or her application for membership has been denied. The letter will be sent within five business days of the denial date, shall cite the section of Policies and Procedures of which the decision was made. There is no refund available for denial.

 

APPEAL PROCESS

Any person whose application for membership has been denied and who requests a hearing may, at the board’s discretion, be permitted to provide additional information or explanation. At that time the board may permit reapplication.

Discipline

Complaints will be submitted to the President. The Board shall review complaints and submit a written report of its findings to the board, within 30 days of the commencement of the investigation. Discipline resulting from a decision of the Board may include a private or public reprimand or suspension or expulsion from CSPI. A written complaint must be filed with the President of the Board within 30 days of the first awareness that a possible violation has occurred. The complaint must provide a specific and detailed description of the alleged violation, together with supporting information and the identification of all participants and/or witnesses. The reporting party must have direct knowledge of the alleged violation. Third party complaints are not permitted.

In the event that grounds for discipline of a member exists, the following procedures shall be followed:

  1. the member shall be given a fifteen (15) days’ notice of the proposed disciplinary action and the reasons therefore. The notice will be sent by first class or registered mail to the member’s last known address in CSPI’s records;
  2. the member shall be given the opportunity to present oral and written rebuttal at least five (5) days before the effective date of the proposed action;
  3. a hearing shall be held by the Board to determine whether or not the member should be disciplined and the manner of discipline. The decision of the Board shall be final.

The Board of Directors shall have the power to cancel the membership of any member for a violation of the Society’s Code of Ethics or for conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the Society provided that any member so charged has had the opportunity to defend himself before the Board of Directors.

 

Non-Discrimination

No person shall be excluded from membership in CSPI, and no member shall be deliberately discriminated against, in the course of CSPI activities, on the basis of gender, race, class, economic status, ethnic background, sexual orientation, physical ability or cultural or religious background.

 

Membership Records

CSPI will maintain a complete and accurate record of all member files. Such member records will be maintained so long as an individual is a member of the CSPI and for a period of three years thereafter. Membership files shall be the property of the CSPI and in the custody of a member of the Board at all times.

 

Officers and Directors

Current Board members shall not use their position on the Board in any advertising for personal business except for resumes and/or curriculum vitae.

Members of CSPI shall serve on the Board without pay and out-of-pocket expenses that are a necessary expense shall be paid with appropriate paperwork detailing the expense.

 

Elections

Elections will be held every six years beginning in November 2022 and shall be by secret ballot. If the slate of officers and directors is uncontested, the President may solicit a motion that the slate be accepted by acclimation. If more than one candidate is running for any office, vote shall be taken for that office by secret ballot of the eligible voting members. A voting period of five-days will begin at midnight following the membership meeting at which the items to be voted upon were presented. Voting, if required, will be by electronic ballot.

 

Nominating Committee

The President shall appoint a nominating committee of 2 members at the September meeting of an election year. One member shall be from the Board of Directors and one member shall be a Professional member. Nominations will be taken from the membership and solicited by the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall present the slate of nominees to the President at the November meeting. Associate and Affiliate members are not be eligible for Board positions.

 

Financial Review

The President shall report to the membership a yearly accounting of the books of the CSPI at the November meeting. The Secretary/Treasurer shall submit the books of CSPI for the past year, which will include but not be limited to checks, invoices and other pertinent documents for the review.

 

Expenditures and Disbursements

The President or Secretary/Treasurer shall make payment to any valid receipt or invoice and accompanying documents, if necessary, to validate the receipt or invoice. Any reimbursement must be approved by the Board members. Reimbursements for any CSPI member in excess of $10 must be approved by the Board.

 

Executive Session

An Executive or “Closed” session may only be called at a regular or special meeting of the Board. The President, or presiding Board member must announce, and the minutes reflect, one of the following topics of discussion for a valid Executive session:

  1. Membership Issues
  2. Conferences concerning ethics violations
  3. Confidential matters pursuant to State and/or Federal law
  4. Any other issue not mentioned above.

Minutes should reflect the topic of discussion, the time Executive session opened, and the time it adjourned. Minutes should be kept during Executive session in the same format as the minutes of the regular meeting. Minutes will be kept for 90 days and then destroyed. No formal action (vote) may be taken while in Executive session.

 

Board Meetings

All voting members of CSPI may attend, but not participate in, Board meetings. The Board of Directors will notify the membership of such meetings five days prior to the commencement of the meeting.

 

Service of Process

Service of Process upon CSPI shall be made only upon the President.

Upon notification, the President shall:

  1. Notify any and all members of CSPI, who are named in the service of process, as soon as is practical.
  2. Notify the Board of Directors of the service of process, as soon as is practical.
  3. Take any action the President deems necessary.

These Policies and Procedures are in effect as of the date they were adopted by the Board of Directors.