Military Defense Investigation Knowledge Base
Military Defense Investigation Authority Publication
Authority Publication No. DI-145
Prioritizing a Defense Investigation When Time and Funding Are Limited
Independent Military Defense Investigations
Supporting Attorneys, Service Members, and Families
Publication Date: August 24, 2026
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Executive Summary
Prioritizing a military defense investigation requires ranking tasks by materiality, perishability, independence, cost, dependency, lawful access, expected value, and their ability to change an important decision.
Military defense investigations do not always have unlimited time, travel, expert funding, or personnel. The challenge is deciding which investigative tasks must be completed first and which can safely wait.
DI-145 explains a counsel-directed method for ranking work by materiality, perishability, independence, cost, dependency, lawful access, expected value, and the ability of the result to affect an important decision.
The publication emphasizes evidence-retention deadlines, witness availability, issue lists tied to elements and defenses, and a decision log showing what was deferred and why. Its practical example shows a team preserving expiring video, using remote witness interviews, and obtaining preliminary technical screening before committing limited funds to a full expert examination.
The purpose is not to reduce investigative quality. It is to protect irreplaceable evidence and direct limited resources toward the highest-value work first.
DI-145 explains how military defense teams can prioritize investigative work when time and funding are limited by ranking materiality, perishability, witness availability, cost, dependency, expected value, and the potential to change a case decision.
Who Should Read This Publication?
Military Defense Counsel
Use the prioritization framework to direct limited investigative and expert resources toward material issues, perishable evidence, unavailable witnesses, and tasks most likely to affect case decisions.
Defense Investigators
Use retention deadlines, witness availability, task cost, dependencies, lawful access, and expected value to organize the investigative sequence and maintain a decision log showing what was deferred and why.
Service Members
Understand why the defense team may need to address some witnesses, records, or technical issues before others when time and funding are limited.
Experts and Consultants
Understand why counsel may first request a focused screening or preliminary technical assessment before authorizing a more expensive full examination.
Families
Understand that prioritizing investigative work is not the same as ignoring evidence; it is a method for protecting irreplaceable evidence and using available resources in the order most likely to benefit the case.
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.