What to Expect
Milwaukee Area Paranormal Investigations
"Follow me into the shadows..."
If you are thinking about contacting us to perform an investigation, you may be wondering what to expect. Each case is unique and no two are executed in the exact same fashion. Different circumstances call for different actions, but typically we adhere to standardized protocols. Below are the general guidelines that we follow while preparing for and during the actual investigation.
It should be noted that none of your personal information will ever be shared with any persons or affiliates not associated with Milwaukee Area Paranormal Investigations. Each member of our team has signed an oath of confidentiality agreeing to keep private and not disclose ANY information regarding a case outside of group personnel or functions.
Once a client has contacted us through email or by phone, one of our members will reply to the initial contact. At that time we will gather as many details as possible regarding your case . You will be asked (in general) what activity you have experienced, how long it has been occurring, if there have been other witnesses, and the address of the site in question.
As soon as we have this information, we begin researching the history of the location in question. We do our best to scour library records, historical societies, and newspaper archives to determine if any records exist to collaborate your case and extend a location's credibility.
At this point, we will also arrange a date and time for a few members of our team to meet with you and any other witnesses. Please keep in mind that we, like yourself, are everyday people with jobs and families to attend to. It may take some time and a little effort to set a date for us to meet with you. Every reasonable attempt will be made to schedule your case in a timely fashion. If you are only available during the week, please note it may take a bit longer to meet with you, as most members on our team work second shift and will need time to make the proper arrangements with their employers for time off.
Before we begin the interview process, we will have every witness present sign our release of information form. This document ascertains the level of confidentiality each witness wants, along with granting or denying permission to place details from the case on our website. The form also lets us know to what extent details may be used and how.
During our initial visit to the site, two of our members trained in inter-personal relations will sit down and speak with all witnesses present. We like to interview all witnesses separately, and when possible, record the interview process with a camcorder or audio recorder for easier reference when writing our reports. We speak with each person individually because not everyone perceives the circumstances in the same way. What one person saw or heard may have appeared completely different to another.
While the witnesses are being interviewed, the remainder of present team members will walk through the site recording audio, video, and local environmental data to use as a base level for future visits, along with mapping the areas in question for future reference.
Once all witnesses have been interviewed and we have established our base readings, we will then ask the client(s) to walk us through the areas in question, and recreate the scenarios prior to and during the reported activity when possible.
After the initial visit, our team will analyze all of the gathered data and determine if further action is deemed necessary. If we feel there is a strong case, we will arrange to return to the site to perform a full investigation.
Once we have completed our investigation and all data and evidence has been analyzed, we will mail our client a detailed report entailing what actions we took and what our finding were,if any, and we will arrange a return visit to the site to discuss our findings in person with all involved to the case. Because there is often many pictures, video, and audio data to sift through, it may take a full month to put together a report. Out team makes every reasonable effort to see that a client's mailed report is accurate, and mailed out in a timely fashion.
We also have a member of our staff that has undergone extensive schooling in psychology who will glady assist any client or witness who feels the need to be counseled regarding the reported activity or any psychological trauma it may have caused. There is no fee for this or any service, but donations are always graciously accepted.
If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone (414) 282-1391.
