Military Defense Investigation Knowledge Base
Military Defense Investigation Authority Publication
Authority Publication No. DI-135
Coordinating Evidence from Inspector General, Equal Opportunity, and Criminal Investigations
Independent Military Defense Investigations
Supporting Attorneys, Service Members, and Families
Publication Date: August 24, 2026
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Executive Summary
Coordinating evidence from military IG, EO, and criminal investigations requires the defense to map each inquiry separately and trace statements, exhibits, findings, and transferred evidence back to their original source.
Inspector General, Equal Opportunity, and criminal investigations may examine the same events while operating under different purposes, authorities, interview procedures, confidentiality frameworks, and reporting systems.
DI-135 explains how defense investigators can map overlapping inquiries, preserve appointment and scope documents, statements, recordings, exhibits and findings, identify rights warnings and use restrictions, and track evidence that moves from one investigation into another.
The publication's practical example involves an EO interview quoted in a criminal report when the original recording is absent. The defense inventory connects the quotation to its source inquiry, identifies the missing recording, and preserves the fact that the two inquiries served different investigative purposes.
The purpose is to prevent a later summary from becoming a substitute for the original evidence. Each important statement should remain traceable backward to its source and forward to any unresolved investigative step.
DI-135 explains how military defense investigators coordinate evidence across Inspector General, Equal Opportunity, and criminal investigations while preserving source, context, chronology, restrictions, and unresolved discrepancies.
Who Should Read This Publication?
Military Defense Counsel
Use the mapped inquiry structure, source records, warnings, restrictions, transferred evidence, and documented discrepancies to identify discovery needs, evidentiary issues, witness preparation, and litigation strategy.
Defense Investigators
Map each IG, EO, and criminal inquiry separately; obtain original statements and recordings where lawfully available; trace cross-references and transfers; and keep conflicting findings visible until explained.
Service Members
Understand that a statement made in one military inquiry may later appear in another report and that the original context, warning, purpose, and recording can matter when evaluating what was actually said.
Qualified Experts or Specialists
Review complete underlying materials and clearly defined questions when counsel determines specialized analysis is appropriate, while distinguishing original evidence from later summaries or transferred interpretations.
Families
Understand why duplicate-looking reports may not be independent corroboration when they trace back to the same original statement or exhibit, and preserve lawfully available records that may help identify the original source.
Companion Video
This companion video expands on the investigative concepts presented in this Authority Publication through additional explanation, practical examples, and professional investigative insight.
About Michael West
The investigative guidance presented throughout these Authority Publications is based upon decades of professional experience conducting military, federal, criminal, civil, and private investigations. The principles discussed in these publications are drawn from real investigative work involving complex cases, witness development, evidence analysis, and factual case preparation.
Michael West has served as a Special Agent with the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) and the Department of Defense Inspector General, conducted federal background investigations, and spent decades working as a licensed private investigator supporting attorneys, businesses, service members, and private clients. Throughout his career, his work has focused on identifying facts, locating witnesses, analyzing evidence, and strengthening the factual foundation of legal cases through independent investigation.
The Military Defense Investigation Knowledge Base was created to share that investigative experience in a practical, understandable format. Its purpose is to help attorneys, service members, and families better understand the investigative process, ask more informed questions, and recognize opportunities where independent investigation may strengthen the defense.
Important Information
This Authority Publication is provided for educational and informational purposes and is intended to help readers better understand military defense investigations and the investigative process. It is based upon professional investigative experience and is designed to provide practical investigative insight rather than legal advice.
Every military case is unique. The investigative strategies, factual issues, and legal considerations applicable to one case may not apply to another. Readers should consult with a qualified attorney regarding legal rights, legal strategy, and decisions involving their individual circumstances.
Nothing contained in this publication should be interpreted as creating an attorney-client relationship or an investigator-client relationship. References to investigative techniques, procedures, or case examples are provided solely to illustrate investigative principles and should not be considered legal guidance.
Effective military defense is strengthened by informed legal representation supported by thorough factual investigation. The purpose of these Authority Publications is to help readers better understand that investigative process so they can communicate more effectively with qualified legal counsel and make informed decisions throughout the military justice process.