M. Francie Koehler, M.S.
El Sobrante, CA *****
**********************@*****.***
EDUCATION
Saint Leo University, Tampa, FL
Doctor of Criminal Justice, May 2023
Thesis topic:
The Shadow of Slavery: Does Slavery and Jim Crow Era Abuse Impact Black Americans and Contribute to Crime in the Urban Communities of Richmond and Oakland, California?
Master of Science, Criminal Justice and Behavuioral Studies summa cum laude May 2018
Omega Nu Lambda Honor Society, Lambda Theta Chapter
Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice magna cum laude May 2016
Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society, IOTA Chapter
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Instructor 2014 - Pres
California Associations of Licensed Investigators, Aliso Viejo, CA
Created and delivered coursework for Newly Licensed Investigators Training [NLITE]
Subjects: Professionalism and Ethics, Protecting Our Interests, and License Issues
Instructor 2017
California Association of Licensed Investigators, Aliso Viejo, CA
Assisted with the creation of coursework for Experienced Licensed Investigators Training [ELITE]. Subjects: Criminal Defense Investigations including crime scene investigation, interviewing and other related topics.
Faculty 2002-2016
California Public Defender Investigators Association, San Diego, CA
Created and delivered content for coursework for Defense Investigators Training Academy [DITA]. Subjects: Interviewing, report writing, online search strategy, risk management.
Faculty 1998-2012
Investigative Career Program, San Francisco, CA
Created and delivered content for course work for private vocational training.
Subjects: Interviewing, report writing.
Instructor 2006-2008
Center for Professional Investigations and Training, Martinez, CA
Created and delivered content for course work for private vocational training. Subjects: Interviewing, report writing.
Instructor 1997-1998
West Coast Detective Academy, Oakland, CA
Created and delivered content for course work for private vocational training. Subjects: Interviewing, report writing.
Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Sacramento, CA
Private Investigator Advisory Committee 2001, 2003
Subject Matter Expert, Licensing Exam 1997, 2001, 2008, 2017
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Founder and Senior Investigator
Special Circumstances, Oakland, CA 1994 - Pres
Investigative agency focusing on criminal and civil litigation. Experienced in interviewing witnesses, victims and families, interfacing with law enforcement and government investigators, fact-checking, gathering exculpatory evidence, document research, background investigations, jury interviews, preparing investigation reports, preparing court exhibits, service of complex process, testimony, and other pre-trial and post-trial work as designated by the attorney.
Conducting mitigation for capital casework, juvenile transfer, and Franklin hearings are specialties. A mitigation specialist accumulates, collects, and assesses evidence into the life of the client and the client’s family, identifying, documenting, and interpreting symptoms of mental and behavioral impairment, cognitive deficits, mental illness, and developmental disabilities.
PROFESSIONAL LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS
Licensed Private Investigator, License # PI 11539
Bureau of Security & Investigative Services, State of California 1988 - Pres
Certification by the Criminal Defense Investigators Training Council
CFSI – Board Certified Forensic Science Investigator 2018
Certification by the Criminal Defense Investigators Training Council
CCDI – Board Certified Criminal Defense Investigator 2015
Certification by the National Association of Legal Investigators, NALI
CLI – Certified Legal Investigator 2013
Certification by the California Defense Investigators Training Academy (DITA).
CCDI – Certified Criminal Defense Investigator 2002
Certification by the California Association of Licensed Investigators
CPI – Certified Professional Investigator (advanced PI status) 1992
Post-Secondary and Vocational Instructor, Certification 134263
Bureau of Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education 1990-1995
LEADERSHIP/PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
California Defense Investigation Training Council
Advisory Board 2015 to Pres
Investigating Innocence
Founding Member 2015
National Council of Investigative and Security Services
Board of Directors 2001 to Pres
Legislative Chair - Investigation 2012 to 2018
Chairman of the Board 2010 to 2011
Association President 2008 to 2010
National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI)
Legislative Chair 2003 to 2008
California Association of Licensed Investigators
Government Affairs Chair 2001 to Pres
Board of Directors 1990 to 2010
Association President 1999 to 2001
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP - CURRENT
Amazing Women Investigators (AWI)
ASIS International (ASIS)
California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI)
California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ)
California Defense Investigators Association (CDIA)
Council for International Investigators (CII)
California Defense Investigation Training Council (CDITC)
Female Legal Investigative Professionals (FLIP)
Florida Association of Licensed Investigators (FALI)
National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI)
Professional Investigators of California Association (PICA)
Texas Association of Licensed Investigators (TALI)
World Association of Detectives (WAD)
AWARDS
National Association of Legal Investigators 2016
Andrew J. Golec Publisher/Editor Award
California Defense Investigation Training Council 2015
Investigator / Philosopher Award
Worldwide Who’s Who 2015
Lifetime Achievement Award
National Council of Investigation & Security Services 2014
John J. Duffy Memorial Award
Cambridge Who’s Who 2014
Humanitarian Award
Voice America Variety Internet Talk Radio 2013
Radio Show Host of the Month
Cambridge Who’s Who 2011
Professional of the Year representing Private Investigations Industry
California Association of Licensed Investigators 2010
President’s Award
California Association of Licensed Investigators 2007
President’s Award
National Council of Investigation & Security Services 2006
Wayne J. Wunder Memorial Award
California Association of Licensed Investigators 2006
President’s Award
California Association of Licensed Investigators 2005
Legislative Excellence Award
California Association of Licensed Investigators 2003
Distinguished Achievement Award
Northern California Innocence Project 2002
Recognition for Work
California Association of Licensed Investigators 2002
President’s Award
Bureau of Security and Investigative Services 2001
Recognition for outstanding contribution
California Association of Licensed Investigators 1997
Investigator of the Year Award
PROFILED IN MEDIA
Television Unsolved Mysteries regarding missing person, Dottie Caylor
Hosted by Robert Stack, aired November 29, 1987
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2486466/?ref_=ttep_ep5
Books A Suitable Job for A Woman
Author Val McDermid
Capital Murder - People v. Parker, Parker, Wilson
Published March 1, 2000, Poisoned Pen Press
In the Name of Love
Author Ann Rule - Crime Files # 4
Disappearance and murder of Jerry Harris
Published January 1, 1998, Simon & Schuster
Video Loss Prevention – The Big Picture – 3-part video series
Theft and Drugs in the Workplace
Published 1992 – Starlite Video Publishing
Radio PI Perspective Podcast, Interview with Matthew Spaier October 25, 2020
Link to YouTube: https://youtu.be/Q-OZRNtlc2g
Close-Up TV News – Interview with Jim Masters August 16, 2016
Link to show: show_9189723_2016_08_16_19_32_04.mp3
Close-Up TV News – Interview with Douglas Llewelyn August 9, 2016
Link to show: show_9166525_2016_08_09_16_32_16.mp3
Podcasts PI’s Declassified! Radio talk show host, Voice America.com. June 2010 to
Present. https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/1748/pis-declassified
Voice America Press Pass Interview – July 12, 2016
Magazines Saint Leo University On-Line Magazine April 28, 2016
Got Clues? Insight Into the Life of a Real Private Eye
Women of Distinction Magazine
Press Release: Francie Koehler as a Distinguished Professional in Her Field
Published WDM, Melville, New York. August 2016
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
Neighborhood House of North Richmond. Richmond, CA
2012 to present - Board of Directors
2018 to present - Board Secretary
1992 to 2012 – Various volunteer activities toward community enrichment
Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP), Contra Costa, CA
Certified Conflict Mediator
Particpated for Catholic Charities, 1993
County contract for first time offender mitigation services
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