As an Investigator, you have access to cases assigned to you by administrators. Your responsibilities include:

• Managing and updating your assigned cases
• Tracking time spent on investigative activities
• Uploading documents and evidence
• Communicating with clients about case progress
• Maintaining detailed records of your work

Accessing Your Cases

1. Click on Cases in the navigation menu
2. You'll see all cases assigned to you by an administrator
3. Click on any case to view its details and work on it

Updating Case Information

You can edit most case details for your assigned cases:

• Status: Update as the case progresses (Active, In Progress, Completed)
• Description: Add investigation findings and notes
• Dates: Update start and due dates as needed
• Priority: Adjust based on urgency

Investigation Checklists

For investigation cases, use the Investigation Checklist tab to track your progress:

• Mark items as "Pending", "In Progress", "Completed", or "Not Available"
• Add notes to document findings for each checklist item
• Add custom checklist items for case-specific tasks

Why Track Time?

Accurate time tracking ensures you're properly compensated for your work and helps maintain detailed records for client billing and case documentation.

Creating a Time Entry

1. Go to Time Tracking → New Time Entry
2. Use the Live Timer (recommended):
   • Click Start Timer when you begin work
   • Click Stop Timer when you finish
   • Times and hours will populate automatically
3. Or enter manually:
   • Select the case you worked on
   • Enter the date
   • Enter start and end times (hours auto-calculate)
   • Or directly enter the number of hours
4. Write a clear description of the work performed
5. Select the task type (Client Meeting, Research, Report Writing, etc.)
6. Enter your hourly rate
7. Click Save Time Entry

Time Entry Status

Best Practices for Time Tracking

• Track time daily while details are fresh
• Be specific in descriptions: "Interviewed witness John Doe re: alibi" not just "Interview"
• Use appropriate task types for accurate reporting
• Include travel time separately if applicable
• Round to nearest 0.25 hours for consistency

Uploading Documents

1. Open a case you're assigned to
2. Go to the Documents tab
3. Click Upload Document
4. Choose document type:
   • Evidence: Physical evidence documentation, photos
   • Report: Investigation reports, summaries
   • Transcript: Interview transcripts, recordings
   • Forensics: Digital forensics reports, extractions
   • Correspondence: Emails, letters
5. Upload the file and add a clear description
6. Click Upload Document

Document Naming Best Practices

• Use clear, descriptive file names
• Include dates: "2025-01-15_WitnessStatement_JohnDoe.pdf"
• Avoid special characters (use underscores instead of spaces)
• Include case number if managing multiple cases

Messaging Clients

You can communicate directly with clients about cases you're investigating through the secure messaging system.

Sending a Message

1. Open a case and go to the Messages tab
2. Type your message in the text box
3. Optionally attach files (documents, photos, etc.)
4. Internal Notes: Check this box if the message should only be visible to QUAIIL staff (not the client)
5. Click Send Message

Communication Best Practices

• Be professional: All messages are part of the case record
• Be clear and concise: Explain findings in plain language
• Respond promptly: Check for client messages regularly
• Use internal notes for case strategy or administrative discussions
• Document important conversations: Summarize phone calls in messages

Accessing Client Details

You can view contact information and details for clients whose cases you're investigating.

1. Click on Clients in the navigation menu
2. You'll see clients associated with your assigned cases
3. Click on a client to view their full profile

Investigator Best Practices

• Track time immediately after completing work
• Update case status regularly to keep everyone informed
• Upload documents promptly to maintain chain-of-custody
• Write detailed time entry descriptions for billing clarity
• Use internal notes for sensitive case strategy discussions
• Respond to client messages within 24 hours when possible
• Keep checklist items updated to show investigation progress
• Document everything: interviews, observations, findings

Security Reminders

• Always log out when using shared computers
• Never share your login credentials
• Use strong, unique passwords
• Report any suspicious activity to administrators immediately
• Don't discuss case details outside of the QUAIIL system

Reporting Issues

If you encounter technical problems, need access to a case, or have questions:

• Contact your QUAIIL administrator first
• For urgent technical support, email: ask@quaiil.com