Miscellaneous

State and Federal Case Law Now On Google

Posted on November 20, 2009
Google Scholar is indexing the case law in all 50 states - Court of Appeals and Supreme Court - and the federal courts. As with the other Google search engines, Google Scholar makes use of its own advanced search operators. Search by keywords, personal names, inclusive dates, and specify one or more states in a single [...

Social Networking - Legal and Ethical Issues for Lawyers and Investigators

Posted on October 25, 2009
Should an investigator or attorney “friend” a prosecution witness in order to find impeachment evidence? Are there legal or ethical bars to surreptitiously gathering data from social network profiles? Should the intent of the user have any bearing on the formulation of law related to access? These and more questions were stirred up in the [...

Twitter Tweets about Internet Research as of October 18, 2009

Posted on October 18, 2009
ThompsonPI: @richards1000 Re:case-law.us: Is Mark Johns designer or owner? Ask him: 301-527-0912, mark@littlearth.us. His lookalike site: wiki-surf.com 2009-10-18 20:07:09 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

Twitter Tweets about Internet Research as of October 17, 2009

Posted on October 17, 2009
ThompsonPI: Marin County, California court records can be search by party first name only, as well as other criteria. http://is.gd/4mZBK 2009-10-16 22:22:14 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

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Twitter Tweets about Internet Research as of October 16, 2009

Posted on October 16, 2009
ThompsonPI: Marin County, California court records can be search by party first name only, as well as other criteria. http://is.gd/4mZBK 2009-10-16 22:22:14 · Reply · View ThompsonPI: Query to find California city government RSS feeds: http://is...

Twitter Tweets about Internet Research as of October 15, 2009

Posted on October 15, 2009
ThompsonPI: Query to find California city government RSS feeds: http://is.gd/4lnNh 2009-10-15 22:03:55 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

Twitter Tweets about Internet Research as of October 14, 2009

Posted on October 14, 2009
ThompsonPI: Search Twitter bios at tweepsearch.com. Tweets not in order of "last recorded update", which is inaccurate. But + addition to Google query. 2009-10-14 18:56:48 · Reply · View ThompsonPI: Read the fine print on searching online Recorder indexes...

Twitter Tweets about Internet Research as of October 12, 2009

Posted on October 12, 2009
ThompsonPI: "7 News Trackers - Search Companies and Topics By Keyword " http://pibuzz.com/2009/10/11/newstrackers 2009-10-11 23:30:37 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

Twitter Tweets about Internet Research as of October 11, 2009

Posted on October 11, 2009
ThompsonPI: Stay current on all my public links for investigators, lawyers and legal fact-finders thru RSS. http://www.diigo.com/user/tamarathompson 2009-10-11 18:40:45 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

7 News Trackers - Search Companies and Topics By Keyword

Posted on October 11, 2009
There are many free news tracking sources that send alerts to your email, RSS reader or are stored at a web-accessible site. Don’t limit yourself to just one aggregator, such as Google News — which is easy to set up and has good coverage. I’ve gathered a list of some other keyword news search and [...

Twitter Tweets about Internet Research as of October 9, 2009

Posted on October 09, 2009
ThompsonPI: RT @lsuttell: "Pretexing, Legal Ethics and Social Media" http://is.gd/45Mok 1. Don’t talk to rep. parties. 2. Don’t impersonate gov. agent! 2009-10-09 01:35:59 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

Twitter Tweets about Internet Research as of October 4, 2009

Posted on October 04, 2009
ThompsonPI: New blog post: Finding, Skip Tracing and Locating Women - Tip #2 pibuzz.com/2009/10/03/findingwomen2 2009-10-03 23:43:56 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

Finding, Skip Tracing and Locating Women - Tip #2

Posted on October 03, 2009
In tip #1 of Finding, Skip Tracing and Locating Women I mentioned one free people finder site and the wildcard tool that can bypass the last name requirement — most helpful in locating women who are probate beneficiaries, potential witnesses in a legal matter or the birth mother of someone relinquished for adoption long ago...

Twitter Tweets about Internet Research as of October 3, 2009

Posted on October 03, 2009
ThompsonPI: Expand your due diligence investigations. Free state and federal case search. Registration req. to view case details. http://is.gd/3UKEf 2009-10-03 18:53:13 · Reply · View ThompsonPI: Skip tracing? Heir or adoption locates? Finding, Skip Tracing and Locating Women - Tip #1 pibuzz...

Finding, Skip Tracing and Locating Women - Tip #1

Posted on October 03, 2009
Anyone who finds people for a living, as private investigators do, knows the frustration of locating women. They change their names. Often many times over the course of their lives. This is a challenge to the heir finder who has a name from many years in the past that she has to update in order to locate her subject.

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of October 1, 2009

Posted on October 02, 2009
kelvynanderson: Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 30, 2009: Leoramaccabee: @PIbuzz Thanks Lori! 2009.. http://bit.ly/1QzUFP 2009-10-01 06:25:43 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

Twitter Tweets about Internet Research as of October 1, 2009

Posted on October 01, 2009
ThompsonPI: Associate a name with a location by entering the name and region in the name field on the Facebook search field. 2009-10-01 20:28:36 · Reply · View ThompsonPI: As predicted, Facebook has eliminated regional networks for new users...

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 30, 2009

Posted on October 01, 2009
Leoramaccabee: @PIbuzz Thanks Lori! 2009-09-30 20:22:32 · Reply · View PIbuzz: @Leoramaccabee re:false Facebook page: the Pl. could prevail in a civil suit, which the government couldn’t in a criminal one (Lori Drew). 2009-09-30 19:21:00 · Reply · View PIbuzz: @timheidecker Searching a CA vehicle plate number is only admissible as part of a report, not as a stand [...

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 29, 2009

Posted on September 30, 2009
PIbuzz: Los Angeles Metrolink commuter rail accidents and fatalities, 1993-2008, includes victim names. http://is.gd/3NOkR 2009-09-30 03:58:46 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 25, 2009

Posted on September 26, 2009
kelvynanderson: Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 24, 2009: EaglePiServices: RT @icupkn: RT @PIbuzz:.. http://bit.ly/l2XLX 2009-09-25 07:30:39 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 24, 2009

Posted on September 25, 2009
EaglePiServices: RT @icupkn: RT @PIbuzz: California court disagrees w. City Atty: private investigator surveillance …. http://is.gd/3DAaa #pilife 2009-09-24 22:10:54 · Reply · View AlliedCentral: RT @icupkn: RT @PIbuzz: California court disagrees with City Attorney: PI surveillance does not a paparazzi make...

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 23, 2009

Posted on September 24, 2009
PIbuzz: @sarahterrycobo When otherwise you can’t find someone Twitter may be a useful electronic forum to get thru the 6 degrees of separation. 2009-09-24 06:17:18 · Reply · View richards1000: @PIbuzz Thanks for RT 2009-09-23 23:19:43 · Reply · View PIbuzz: RT @richards1000: Conference: on legal & ethical issues in Social Networks...

Twitter Tweets about Internet Research as of September 24, 2009

Posted on September 24, 2009
ThompsonPI: Researching doctors? 60% medical students unprofessional online; 39% depict intoxication - survey of 1/2 of med schools http://is.gd/3CAFp 2009-09-24 06:22:44 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 22, 2009

Posted on September 23, 2009
PIbuzz: @resourceshelf Not many salary databases listed at the news sites. More local, county, school and state links at pibuzz.com/government-pay 2009-09-23 00:53:22 · Reply · View PIbuzz: Open Book Pittsburgh is a searchable database of Pittsburgh, PA city government contracts and campaign contributions...

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 21, 2009

Posted on September 22, 2009
PIbuzz: @EllenNaylor re: Alltop news aggregator. I seem to get better results at meehive.com building a personalized newspaper. What do you think? 2009-09-21 19:01:08 · Reply · View PIbuzz: RT @fyiscreening: RT @MollyDiBi: It Ain’t Private If You Post It On the Internet http://ff...

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 20, 2009

Posted on September 21, 2009
PIbuzz: Journalists on Twitter: http://muckrack.com 2009-09-21 03:24:55 · Reply · View PIbuzz: Defamatory comments posted on Facebook land posters in court. School seeks monetary damages from a mocking student. http://is.gd/3uZPq 2009-09-20 22:17:29 · Reply · View kelvynanderson: Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 19, 2009: bhaven: RT @PIbuzz: RT @PrivacyLaw: ?Cali...

Twitter Tweets about Internet Research as of September 21, 2009

Posted on September 21, 2009
ThompsonPI: Facebook.com/search to ID by co. or school even if that’s not one of their networks. Select "people", then "filter". Leave "search" blank. 2009-09-21 18:41:57 · Reply · View ThompsonPI: @robhester re: "majority … have privacy expectations" Privacy settings on Facebook assumed to work ,but a court can mandate disclosure 2009-09-21 03:09:16 · Reply [...

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 19, 2009

Posted on September 20, 2009
bhaven: RT @PIbuzz: RT @PrivacyLaw: ?Calif. Court Creates New Procedure for Uncovering Anonymous Commenters? http://tinyurl.com/ljtb5q #yro #privacy 2009-09-19 19:13:32 · Reply · View PIbuzz: RT @PrivacyLaw: ?California Court Creates New Procedure for Uncovering Anonymous Commenters? http://tinyurl...

Twitter Tweets about Internet Research as of September 20, 2009

Posted on September 20, 2009
ThompsonPI: Get different versions of an expert’s CV by varying search query. Try: intitle:"first name last name" inurl:lastname "Curriculia Vita" 2009-09-20 22:48:35 · Reply · View ThompsonPI: Legal expert doesn’t have CV posted on their site? Try search engine query: intitle:"first name middle initial last name" "curriculum vitae" 2009-09-20 22:45:54 · Reply · View ThompsonPI: Searching for school alumni? [...

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 18, 2009

Posted on September 19, 2009
PIbuzz: Wisconsin Circuit Court judge: legal invoices to the county a public record, not protected by attorney-client privilege. http://is.gd/3qq8G 2009-09-18 20:57:35 · Reply · View PIbuzz: Another reason to appreciate newspapers: they publish obituaries, which name relatives — harder to ID in old heir locates...

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 17, 2009

Posted on September 18, 2009
skipmax: @PIbuzz The place they need to start is with a statewide crim database. Only a few counties are available. Rest are by hand. Gets expensive. 2009-09-17 23:22:54 · Reply · View PIbuzz: California :By late 2010 all CA county courts should be linked and searchable online...

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 16, 2009

Posted on September 17, 2009
richards1000: @PIbuzz Glad you got confirmation 2009-09-16 19:40:05 · Reply · View PIbuzz: @richards1000 Private investigators can join MH Connected. They emailed me. My PI lic # matched a dead lawyer! 2009-09-16 19:23:14 · Reply · View PIbuzz: Search recent Clark County Nevada marriage certificates by bride or groom...

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 15, 2009

Posted on September 16, 2009
kelvynanderson: Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 14, 2009: PIbuzz: ECPA keeps Facebook accounts of i.. http://bit.ly/4k3Y8P 2009-09-15 07:28:37 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 14, 2009

Posted on September 15, 2009
PIbuzz: ECPA keeps Facebook accounts of insurance claimants protected, but you can still view public pages to evaluate injuries. http://is.gd/3hy5Q 2009-09-15 03:17:17 · Reply · View kelvynanderson: Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 13, 2009: PIbuzz: New at PIbuzz blog: "Plaxo Pe...

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 13, 2009

Posted on September 14, 2009
PIbuzz: New at PIbuzz blog: "Plaxo People Finder ", "Custom Search Engines for Journalists, Private Investigators and Attorneys ". http://pibuzz.com 2009-09-13 22:20:49 · Reply · View PIbuzz: #CA #legislation Court clerks to keep list of felons: DOB, name, address...

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 12, 2009

Posted on September 13, 2009
PIbuzz: HOT! RT @BrettTrout: Facebook allows public search of "private" notes on thousands of accounts http://is.gd/3a1uL 2009-09-12 20:12:01 · Reply · View kelvynanderson: Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 11, 2009: PIbuzz: One search engine to #news them a...

Plaxo People Finder

Posted on September 13, 2009
Social networking sites continue to refine their people finder tools — and some unintended ones are being exploited by savvy investigators. Linkedin, MySpace, Facebook all have internal search engines to find their member webpages. Linkedin and MySpace have multiple search engines, returning different results...

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 11, 2009

Posted on September 12, 2009
PIbuzz: One search engine to #news them all! California newspapers SE: http://pibuzz.com/california-news 2009-09-12 06:13:20 · Reply · View PIbuzz: @TheRealMegaPI When criminals use online public records to find out if they’re criminals? 2009-09-11 06:49:32 · Reply · View PIbuzz: Kansas state employees and salaries: search only by job or agency, not name...

Custom Search Engines for Journalists, Private Investigators and Attorneys

Posted on September 12, 2009
A common complaint about search query results from search engines is that too many are unwieldy, returning far more than one can troll though. But that’s also the advantage of search engines — they grab a lot of content. Google makes it easy to build custom search engines of just the websites that you want [...

Search Private Facebook Notes

Posted on September 12, 2009
Facebook profiles — “info” and “wall” pages — are often viewable to others in the same network, providing historical and real-time intelligence for your investigations. All this can be done passively without a special request to “friend” them...

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 10, 2009

Posted on September 11, 2009
kelvynanderson: Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 9, 2009: PIbuzz: Search Systems public records dire.. http://bit.ly/oZyEE 2009-09-10 07:27:28 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 9, 2009

Posted on September 10, 2009
PIbuzz: Search Systems public records directory is free again! 30 sec delay for non members. An online directory, updated daily. 2009-09-09 21:39:07 · Reply · View RKaiser: RT @ThompsonPI Track new government salary links at pibuzz.com/government-pay Good links! 2009-09-09 20:43:56 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 8, 2009

Posted on September 09, 2009
ThompsonPI: Track new government salary links at pibuzz.com/government-pay using free monitoring service, watchthatpage.com. 2009-09-09 03:03:31 · Reply · View PIbuzz: Compare http://is.gd/33xCx w/commercial DB for judgments or Fictitious Business Names...

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 7, 2009

Posted on September 08, 2009
PIbuzz: State legislation and recently enacted laws related to public records. http://is.gd/30m05 2009-09-07 20:36:15 · Reply · View PIbuzz: Alaska probate law: redact Social Security numbers and birthdates, but the public record must be put on the Internet...

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 6, 2009

Posted on September 07, 2009
gtiadvisors: Hi Tamara.. yes spooky RT @PIbuzz: @gtiadvisors A U.S. PI is developing private cams to scan all license plates on freeways! (@CanadianPI) 2009-09-06 13:46:02 · Reply · View kelvynanderson: Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 5, 2009: PIbuzz: California: Database of the state&...

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 5, 2009

Posted on September 06, 2009
PIbuzz: California: Database of the state’s 680 Death Row inmates. http://is.gd/2W7M2 2009-09-06 01:20:22 · Reply · View PIbuzz: @gtiadvisors A U.S. PI is developing private cams to scan all license plates on freeways! 2009-09-06 00:46:21 · Reply · View PIbuzz: Just discovered that I was featured in the August IRBSearch newsletter! http://is...

Twitter Tweets about Private Investigator as of September 4, 2009

Posted on September 05, 2009
PIbuzz: Looking for assets? Pension plan beneficiaries who haven’t been located. Search by name and get LKA. http://is.gd/2RJeT 2009-09-04 06:52:35 · Reply · View PIbuzz: Anyone else disturbed by the irresponsible flame-fanning that the media someXs does calling online public records "scary"?http://is...

Twitter Tweets about Public Records as of July 8, 2009

Posted on July 09, 2009
PIbuzz: Check out the talk abt legal ethics of changing Facebook network to observe a witness http://twttrlist.com/125b #twttrlist #pilife 2009-07-09 05:46:56 · Reply · View PIbuzz: Switching networks=passive observation, not contact. Deceiving the witness=nono...

Twitter Tweets about Public Records as of July 7, 2009

Posted on July 08, 2009
PIbuzz: Vermont #gov20 Transparency site includes State Employee Salaries database. #Vt Link added to PIbuzz.com. http://is.gd/1qMea 2009-07-08 06:03:12 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

Twitter Tweets about Public Records as of July 6, 2009

Posted on July 07, 2009
PIbuzz: #PA home improvement contractors search: By keyword, location or partial name to get profile w/ add, phone,URL, AKAs. http://is.gd/1pcBK 2009-07-06 21:39:47 · Reply · View PIbuzz: @DE_PI Private investigators see IRB XChange for current discussion about the legalities/ethics of viewing SN profiles...

Twitter Tweets about Public Records as of June 29, 2009

Posted on June 29, 2009
PIbuzz: Search across Southwest Ohio local government by name for agency & wages, 1998-2008. site:cpmra.muohio.edu name #opengov #ohio 2009-06-21 23:54:41 · Reply · View PIbuzz: RT @MarkRosch: Stay alert and on Twitter to snag fast-moving travel deals http://usat...

Twitter Tweets about Public Records as of June 19, 2009

Posted on June 19, 2009
PIbuzz: Household Goods Mover Registration Search - US DOT - search by state or company. http://is.gd/15SNz 2009-06-19 03:41:51 · Reply · View PIbuzz: RT @idexperts: RT @doza: Bozeman has job applicants give their UN and PW to social networking sites http://bit...

Twitter Tweets about Public Records as of June 18, 2009

Posted on June 18, 2009
PIbuzz: GAO: IDENTITY THEFT:Governments Have Acted to Protect Personally Identifiable Information, but Vulnerabilities Remain ttp://is.gd/14GW3 2009-06-17 20:20:01 · Reply · View PIbuzz: California statewide vinelink.com new TOS requires agreement that the viewer is a victim or witness to a crime...

Twitter Tweets about Public Records as of June 17, 2009

Posted on June 17, 2009
PIbuzz: City of North Las Vegas offender search has been added to VineLink. http://is.gd/13VQ3 2009-06-17 01:03:28 · Reply · View PIbuzz: RT @MargotWilliams: GovTwit government Twitter directory of fed, state, local, agencies, more http://govtwit...

Twitter Tweets about Public Records as of June 16, 2009

Posted on June 16, 2009
PIbuzz: Oregon: searchable database of the unclaimed dead, those whose burial was paid by the Indigent Burial Fund, 2000-2009. http://is.gd/13cLs 2009-06-16 06:40:18 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

Twitter Tweets about Public Records as of June 15, 2009

Posted on June 15, 2009
PIbuzz: @michaelhorner65 Query: Find CEO: "bio * * honeyfund" "on twitter" site:twitter.com or "Name Seth Haber" "on twitter" site:twitter.com 2009-06-15 00:44:00 · Reply · View PIbuzz: City of San Diego, Neighborhood eWatch: search by address or cross streets and get emailed crime alerts ...

Twitter Tweets about Public Records as of June 14, 2009

Posted on June 14, 2009
PIbuzz: Pollution locator: Search by zip code or city for environmental conditions of communities: toxic releases and hazards. http://is.gd/11p0Z 2009-06-14 05:45:56 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

Twitter Tweets about Public Records as of June 13, 2009

Posted on June 13, 2009
PIbuzz: David Queen at CALI: how PIs can stay out of trouble. A new edition of his book, The Private Investigator’s Legal Manual, is out. #pilife 2009-06-13 13:55:01 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

Twitter Tweets about Public Records as of June 12, 2009

Posted on June 12, 2009
PIbuzz: Colorado stolen vehicle identification by VIN. http://is.gd/Z8aV 2009-06-11 21:04:38 · Reply · View PIbuzz: California State Archives, Local Government Records - marriage, death, probate, naturalizations and more. http://is.gd/Z70b 2009-06-11 20:35:55 · Reply · View TwitterDoodle by The Lessnau Lounge

Twitter Tweets about Public Records as of June 11, 2009

Posted on June 11, 2009
PIbuzz: We’ll see if the Washington Supreme Court interprets the public records act to include court administrative records. http://is.gd/YA72 2009-06-11 05:07:42 · Reply · View PIbuzz: Merlindata tutorial on the revised database interface debuting in July is brief, but gives a sense of the design...

Twitter Tweets about Public Records as of June 10, 2009

Posted on June 10, 2009
PIbuzz: Most employees and managers violate company computer security policies - even when they know it. http://is.gd/WjGk 2009-06-10 01:50:35 · Reply · View PIbuzz: EPA - Track and plot on a map by zip code: eco conditions, facts, hazardous sites, enforcement actions & more...

Twitter Tweets about Public Records as of June 9, 2009

Posted on June 09, 2009
PIbuzz: State Traffic Safety Legislation Database - 50 states. http://www.ncsl.org/?tabid=13599 2009-06-09 14:23:57 · Reply · View PIbuzz: One of my favorite power searchers, Greg Notess, writes about Bing — its strengths and how to search...

California and Federal Legislation Affecting the Private Investigator

Posted on June 03, 2009
California legislation that the California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI) is tracking: Protection of Consumers through Continuing Education SB 202 [Harman] Prohibitions against Use of Credit Report Information AB 943 [Mendoza] Meal and Rest Periods & Licensed Private Investigators SB 287 [Calderon] and SB 380 [Dutton] Flexible Work Schedules AB 141 [Tran] and SB 187 [Benoit] Expansion of Paid Sick Days AB 1000 [Ma] Fair [...

Private Investigator Twitter Tweets as of June 3, 2009

Posted on June 03, 2009
PIbuzz: Third-party Web tracking: How does it affect anonymous online investigations by info researchers? http://is.gd/NtZy 2009-06-03 21:03:06 · Reply · View PIbuzz: California legislation that is top priority for investigators: http://tinyurl...

Public Records, Not Public Records and Private Investigators

Posted on May 18, 2009
Government agencies won’t put public records on the Internet but the former Santa Bernardino County Assessor found a technological runaround to making his emails a public record. A private investigator and the former supervisor of the Worthless Check Division in the St...

Is It Legal for A Private Investigator To Lie On MySpace?

Posted on May 09, 2009
Next week the U. S. District Court of California will issue the sentence for Lori Drew, the MySpace “cyberbully” who was convicted of violating the MySpace terms of service when she created a false profile. [See my article, Think Twice Before Going Undercover...

Intelius, Spock and Search Engine People Finders

Posted on May 03, 2009
Consumer-targeted people finder and background data reseller, Intelius, recently acquired the social networking people search site, Spock. Intelius is the ubiquitous Internet provider of background reports — serving the consumer hungry for criminal records and other dirt on potential dates, family members and service providers — but more expensive and not as comprehensive as [...

New York Chills Employment Investigations

Posted on April 22, 2009
The phrase “personal information” and “identity theft” have become so intertwined that legislatures have rushed to implement laws which have detrimental outcomes for investigations. Recently codified New York law would subject employers to a $500 penalty for disclosing “personal identifying information” on employees...

Mexico Court Record Index Online

Posted on March 22, 2009
Wouldn’t it be convenient and a boon to cross-border investigations to be able to search an online index of Mexico court records? An Internet search for a source for these directs you to Westlaw, a collection of legal research and fact-finding databases, costly and beyond the financial reach of most investigators...

Connecticut Civil Union Index Online

Posted on March 20, 2009
In Connecticut, a civil union license is issued by the registrar of vital statistics for the town in which the ceremony takes place or where the partners live, and recorded with the town clerk. Some town clerks have begun adding records of civil unions to their online index search, along with marriage, deaths, land records [...

Sunshine Week: Is Government Transparency Possible Without Newspapers?

Posted on March 18, 2009
The shuttering of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer print version during Sunshine Week is a sad reminder of the trend in big city papers. Increasingly, they can’t afford to operate in paper form, and maybe won’t be able to in online-only versions — depending on how the dollars shake out...

Sunshine Week 2009 - State Reports

Posted on March 15, 2009
California lags, but Texas shines at the top of the rating of online access to government records — essential to a democratic system of governance and a core tool of the private investigator. Sunshine Week 2009 launched today with the publication of the survey ranking state governments’ online public records...

Sunshine Week 2009 Survey of State Government Information

Posted on March 14, 2009
The newspapers are getting a running start on Sunshine Week –the Sunday kickoff to a week focused on efforts by the media and government to cast a light on government operations– reporting the good and the bad on the state of accessibility to online public agency records...

Keeping Up With Crime

Posted on March 10, 2009
Surprisingly, I wrote about crime mapping only once in 2008. That was about the efforts to track and map crime incidents at universities and included some tips for finding online crime map sites. CrimeReports, which I wrote about in 2007, is still chugging along, now with about 150 participating police departments just in California, where [...

Government Spending Transparency Databases

Posted on February 12, 2009
The governor of Alabama signed an executive order that creates an online database of all state government spending and legislators’ relationships with lobbyists. This will go online later this year, but many other states have already made available government spending, salary and revenue databases, often in a site dedicated to issues of transparency in government...

Facebook, Criminal Records and People Finders

Posted on February 12, 2009
A new feature has been introduced at the most popular social networking site, Facebook — which it’s calling Truescoop –, a name search that identifies people by their state of residence and date of birth and, for some, criminal record history...

This week in public records: California

Posted on February 06, 2009
A California appellate court has settled a public records case — the right of access to a Santa Clara County GIS parcel mapping database — in favor of the plaintiffs, the California First Amendment Coalition. The county alternately demanded an exorbitant fee to access the database, then claimed that it was protected for national security [...

This week in public records: Florida

Posted on January 30, 2009
The final report issued by the Florida Commission on Open Government Reform recommends how the State of Florida can make its government records more accessible to the public. The report should be read by anyone concerned with open government and the future of public records in Florida...

National Motor Vehicle Title Information System Database

Posted on January 30, 2009
The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) database is active now in 27 states. Check automobile titling information, including some historical theft data. This U.S. Department of Justice project was initiated to curb title fraud and the sale of junk cars...

This week in public records: Pennsylvania

Posted on January 29, 2009
Reversing a lower court, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that some autopsy records should be disclosed to the public. Maybe the coroners will further open those records in the advent of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Right To Know Law, which explicitly places the burden of proof on the government for justifying why a document is [...

Real Time Tracking On Microblogging Search Engines

Posted on January 26, 2009
By now everyone whose discovered the Internet knows about finding background on people at two of the most popular social networking sites — Facebook and My Space. But you may not have ventured into the microblogging world of Twitter, where people are just as unguarded, albeit in smaller doses — messaging in less than 140 [...

Read Private Investigator Blogs

Posted on January 23, 2009
I’m partial, but didn’t it seem that PI buzz got a scant description in the list of private investigator blogs? Expand your reading, if you must, and take a look at the e-Justice blog posting, Private Eye Reading: The Top 50 Detective Blogs.

Texas AG Launches Charitable Organizations Search Tool

Posted on January 14, 2009
The Texas Attorney General has finally around to offering a service previously available in most other states: a charities online database. A search using the Texas Charitable Organizations Search Tool returns a summary of the organization, sometimes with a revenue graph, and a link to the IRS 990 forms...

Social Networking for Investigators

Posted on January 12, 2009
The widespread use of social networking sites is also engaging private investigators as participants — as I am on Linkedin — and as information gatherers. Law Technology News published my article, variously titled, “Research: Me, Myself & I:People can be unguarded on social networking sites” and “Due Diligence With Social Networks“...

Do Public Records Belong To the Public?

Posted on January 11, 2009
The Iowa legislature is chewing over the notion that open government records may be responsible for identity theft and should be restricted. The Identity Theft Prevention Study Committee met last month and developed a collection of recommendations, including redacting certain “personal information” — that fuzzy term has yet to be defined — in public records...

Think Twice Before Going Undercover

Posted on December 01, 2008
Who would have thought that creating a fake profile on MySpace (a violation of their user agreement) could lead to a criminal conviction? The recent verdict in the case of Lori Drew concluded that she was guilty of computer fraud for doing just that. Of course the verdict was influenced by the belief that the [...

So You Think You Know Google?

Posted on November 30, 2008
I did have one techie admit that he learned something new at the presentation I did for the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. Their Sunny Climate Seminar is held every year in Hawaii, very painful… Almost as soon as I minted my PowerPoint, So You Think You Know Google? (see an edited version), Google released [...

Find Government Employees and Salaries

Posted on November 23, 2008
In the past few years, general circulation newspapers have furthered the cause of government transparency by providing searchable databases of government employees and their salaries. Although these are federal, state, county and municipal government public records the corresponding government agencies have not made these available at their Web sites...

Ohio Drunk Driver Database

Posted on October 02, 2008
A database of convicted drunk drivers is slated to go online by the end of 2008, hosted by the Ohio Department of Public Safety. Ohio’s SB 17 mandates the creation of an Internet registry listing personal information on repeat offenders. Read the press release that details the characteristics of the Habitual OVI/OMWI Offender Registry...

Texas AG Shuts Down USA Skiptrace of Colorado

Posted on September 28, 2008
The Texas Attorney General is employing various media - screen shots, video, press releases and court documents - to broadcast its recent shuttering of USA Skiptrace, AMS Research Services, Inc. and Worldwide Investigations, Inc. for selling consumers? private telephone records and impersonating those account holders...

Database of the Day: Homicide In Chicago 1870-1930

Posted on September 27, 2008
Northwestern University hosts this searchable database of homicides in Chicago that occurred between 1870 and 1930. The mandatory search field is street name, but many other criteria can be added. Read the description of this massive project, transferring handwritten records to a digital format...

California EMT Registry Created

Posted on September 26, 2008
Formal disciplinary actions against a California Emergency Medical Technician will now be available as a public record, thanks to AB 2917, signed by the governor today. AB 2917 will provide the public with with certification and licensure information and create an EMT registry, specified by Section 1797...

State Laws: Event Data Recorders

Posted on September 16, 2008
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) issues topical summaries of each year’s state legislation that has become law. The NCSL report, 2008 Privacy Legislation Related to Event Data Recorders (”Black Boxes”) in Vehicles, will help private investigators stay informed of the legal parameters of the application of electronic surveillance and tracking of of others’ [...

University Campus Crime Maps

Posted on August 31, 2008
If you subscribe to PI buzz Alert you may have seen the link I included to UCrime, a crime information mapping site of recent crime incidents at universities. Search by address or date (2008 only) to see reported crimes plotted on a map, with icons distinguishing the type of incident...

This week in public records: Arizona Disciplinary Records

Posted on August 24, 2008
All disciplinary records of Arizona government employees become public records September 28, 2008. Arizona Revised Statutes adds section 39-128, Disciplinary records of public officers and employees; disclosure; exceptions. Release of home address, telephone number and photograph of people in certain job categories (law enforcement) is restricted...

Find Records of Disciplined Attorneys

Posted on August 23, 2008
Attorney disciplinary records are organized on the state level and, if online, are usually found at the state bar or state court. The court division that is responsible for investigating attorney misconduct may be called “Office of Disciplinary Counsel”, “Disciplinary Board” or “Disciplinary Commission”...

Database of the Day: Insurance Providers Receivership Information

Posted on August 09, 2008
Before your eyes glaze over, your head goes into free-fall, allow me to point you to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) database of insurers who have been in receivership. This newly initiated project to get all state insurance commissioners to supply data on insurance providers licensed in their states, now contains historical data [...

Google Insights - Find popular search terms

Posted on August 08, 2008
What are the top 10 searches in the Google search engine of interest to private investigators? The new Google product, Google Insights, is a Web site optimization tool, or just an amusing time-waster, depending on your inclination. I searched the phrase “find my”, which returned top searches, listing, “find my ip” and “find my way” — [...

Database of the Day: Missouri Statewide Voter Registration Lookup

Posted on August 06, 2008
The Missouri Secretary of State now has a statewide Voter Information Lookup online. Enter the person’s first and last name, county and street name. If you’ve correctly matched that personal information, you have to select the correct street address, as you can see in this image...

Background Screening and Investigations - Book Review

Posted on August 03, 2008
Background Screening and Investigations: Managing Hiring Risk from the HR and Security Perspectives is a wide-ranging guide to the technology, resources, policies and procedures, and trends in employment screening. A road map for Human Resource decision makers who are screening potential hires and current employees or who are evaluating outside background screening companies, Background Screening [...

This week in public records: Secret Juries

Posted on August 02, 2008
The names of jurors are public records, according to a ruling by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which countered the actions of a Pennsylvania federal judge who kept the juror names from the media in a high-profile trial. Apparently, the 3rd Circuit believes that’s not the norm in federal court, but the reality [...

New York State Employees Online

Posted on August 01, 2008
The Empire Center for New York State Policy has begun to build databases to make New York government more transparent. Just today, the Center’s project, SeeThruNY unveiled a database of names and salaries for more than 263,000 employees of New York’s state government...

CriminalSearches - A free criminal records resource

Posted on July 29, 2008
Is it a tool, or will you be fooled? That all depends on how familiar you are with searching criminal records. Read my review of this criminal records search guide if you’d like to learn more about how criminal records are maintained. The free people finder sites offer more details for a fee, but this [...

This week in public records: Massachusetts - Pennsylvania - New Mexico

Posted on July 23, 2008
The Massachusetts Supreme Court is proposing new procedures that, if adopted, would curtail the available personal information in all court files. The court is accepting public comments on its Interim Guidelines for the Protection of Personal Identifying Data in Publicly Accessible Court Documents...

The Conversation Between Attorneys and Investigators

Posted on July 13, 2008
Anthony Pellicano may have supplanted Sam Spade as the most widely recognized private investigator, albeit Sam was fictional, although Pellicano seems so. The National Law Journal hyperbolic headline, Christensen Case a ‘Wake-Up’ Call for Lawyers on Use of Private Eyes, suggests that the Pellicano/Christensen matter is stirring an otherwise somnolent crowd, causing attorneys to be [...

This week in public records: North Dakota - California - Tennessee - Kentucky - Missouri - Alaska

Posted on July 12, 2008
Juror names and jury questionnaires are public records and subject to disclosure even if a trial judge has made promises to the contrary. At least in North Dakota. A ruling by that state’s Supreme Court, cited by the Associated Press, rebuffed a trial court’s claim that the records in one case were sealed out [...

How To Find the New Web Page

Posted on July 07, 2008
I don’t regularly check the currency of the links in prior postings, but you may have realized that many links on the Internet are good one day and dead the next. One way to find the new page is to backspace to the URL, deleting the subdirectories...

Database of the Day: National Motorcycle Accident Reports

Posted on July 06, 2008
Search the Motorcycle Accident Reports Database by state and county for all 50 states, covering 2002-2006. The Gannett News Service pooled government and proprietary data to create the reports.The accident reports don’t identify the parties to the accident, but they list the date and time, place, nature of the accident, whether it was a fatality, [...

This week in public records: California - Pennsylvania - North Dakota - Arizona

Posted on July 03, 2008
Government agencies in California can’t assign control of records that would otherwise be public records to a private entity. SB 1696 enrolled. New Law Allows Greater Access to Government Contracts, PolitickerCA.com, Adam Keigwin. A Pennsylvania open records blog reports that the recent overhaul of the Pennsylvania Right To Know Law includes a requirement that records [...

Student Directories for People Finder Searches

Posted on June 15, 2008
Private investigators and Internet researchers may have to look beyond public records and personal information databases to develop profiles of students. Student directories, which can list a student’s full name, email, field of study, address and year of graduation, confirm attendance and suggest other research avenues...

This week in public records: Alaska Social Security number protection

Posted on June 14, 2008
Alaska is purported to have instituted one of the strongest identity theft protection laws through HB 25. Although the bill sets out restrictions on the collection, sale and distribution to third parties of Social Security numbers, the exceptions should cover the normal course of business for private investigators...

Database of the Day: Idaho Pending and Closed Court Cases

Posted on June 03, 2008
Idaho court records index for all 44 counties is online at the Idaho State Judiciary, Supreme Court Data Repository. Search by partial name for records from 1995 forward (some older cases may be available, according to the court Web site). The search form suggests that date of birth is a required field, but I found [...

Fee Increase for Recording Documents in West Virginia

Posted on May 30, 2008
(Special contribution by Michael Sankey of BRB Publications, Inc.) Effective June 8, 2008, the recording fee for each document recorded in West Virginia recording offices will increase by $5.00. There is no fee increase for document searches, copies or certifications...

Changes to Criminal Records Access in Vermont

Posted on May 30, 2008
(Special contribution by Michael Sankey of BRB Publications, Inc.) Effective July 1, 2008, significant changes are scheduled to take place in Vermont regarding criminal record access at the courts, from the Vermont Criminal Information Center (VCIC), and what will be reported on the VCIC record...

California AG Interprets Public Records Act to Allow Real Property Addresses On the Internet

Posted on May 29, 2008
A little noticed but potentially significant (for public records researchers) California Attorney General opinion was released a week ago. The opinion upends the almost universal interpretation of the Public Records Act by county Assessors pertaining to disseminating property addresses on the Internet...

FTC Permanently Halts ?Pretexting? Scheme

Posted on May 29, 2008
Defendants Barred From Obtaining or Selling Consumers? Phone Records to Third Parties The Federal Trade Commission has put a permanent halt to an operation that allegedly obtained consumers? confidential phone records without their knowledge or consent and sold them to third parties...

FTC Reaches Settlement With Investigators Involved In The HP Spy Scheme

Posted on May 29, 2008
The FTC reached an agreement on Wednesday for $600,000 in settlements and judgments against several private investigators others involved in the Hewlett-Packard Co. boardroom scandal. The FTC settlement imposed a $67,000 penalty against Matthew DePante, his father, Joseph DePante, and their now-defunct company, Action Research Group Inc...

Database of the Day: New York Voter Registration Lookup

Posted on May 28, 2008
It’s the season when government agencies attend to their voter registration online access. Election time presents a good opportunity to call people for information gathering. I’ll leave the details to your imagination, but in the interim check the New York Voter Registration Search at the NYS Voter site, operated by the New York Board of [...

Wisconsin motor vehicle records can be public records

Posted on May 26, 2008
Law enforcement agencies may release motor vehicle reports that they obtained in the course of an investigation in response to a public records request, according to an opinion issued by the Wisconsin Attorney General. Van Hollen reasoned that the DPPA identifies certain permissible uses for which a state motor vehicle department (a “DMV”) may disclose specified [...

Impersonation to obtain personal information snares researchers and private investigators

Posted on May 26, 2008
Impersonating someone to a government agency or hiring another to carry out this ruse could result in a criminal prosecution. The operators of BNT Investigations, which was not licensed in Washington state, where they were based, plead guilty to crimes that carry a minimum 2-year sentence...

New York AG Exacts Fine from US Search

Posted on May 25, 2008
Data reseller USSearch.com will pay $250,000 for accessing and selling non-public personally identifiable information obtained from credit bureaus. The New York Attorney General determined that US Search illegally accessed the consumer information more than 2,385 times...

Database of the Day: Domestic Partnership Registry

Posted on May 16, 2008
The recent California Supreme Court decision overturning California’s law banning same-sex marriage as unconstitutional provides a timely discussion of the domestic partnership registry. California, among other states and municipalities provides a means for couples — variously, same or opposite sex in civil unions or domestic partnerships — to register their relationship...

This week in public records: California - Florida - Ohio

Posted on May 13, 2008
It looks like the California Assembly bill that would have created an Internet Domestic Violence Registry has excised that feature from the recent draft. The California Sheriffs’ Association has announced that VINELink will soon include all California counties, not just the 17 that are currently at that site...

This week in public records: California - Missouri - New Jersey

Posted on May 11, 2008
The Marin Independent Journal prevailed in its 2 year tussle with the county to obtain county employees salaries, finally decided by the 1st District Court of Appeal. And the newspaper has made county salary data available at its Web site. Salaries of earners over $100, 000 can be searched by name or agency at the [...

Database of the Day: Wisconsin Voter Registration Lookup

Posted on April 26, 2008
Find a Wisconsin voter’s address, voter registration status, party affiliation, data of registration and voting history for current and inactive Wisconsin voters. The search requires the input of the first and last name and date of birth. In a prior roundup of government sites with voter registration lookups, I forgot to mention the National Association of [...

Database of the Day: Medicare Service Providers

Posted on April 16, 2008
If you’re researching background on health care providers take a look at the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System database. You’ll find any type of medical service provider who accepts Medicare or Medicaid. Search by partial name, city, state or zip code...

Database of the Day: New Hampshire Offender Search

Posted on April 10, 2008
The New Hampshire Department of Corrections Offender Locater database can be searched by partial last name. The inmate search covers inmates currently in a Department of Correction facility. Results include Date of Birth, Prisoner ID#, Booked Date, Current Parole Date, Maximum Parole Date, Facility, Case ID, Offense Date, Court Docket and Conviction Crime...

The Search Systems Free Criminal Records Search Guide

Posted on April 07, 2008
Pacific Information Resources, Inc., familiarly known as Search Systems, has released a guide to researching criminal records. The document is viewable online and can also be downloaded as a PDF. Search Systems provides links to commercial and government-operated databases of public record information on the Internet...

Database of the Day: Illinois Physician Profiles and License Actions

Posted on April 06, 2008
Review the professional and disciplinary background of 44,000 physicians and surgeons licensed to practice in Illinois. Search the database by doctor’s partial first name, partial last name, city, specialty keyword or hospital affiliation. Select a physician’s name to see specialty certifications, legal and disciplinary actions for the past 5 years, and resume details...

This week in public records: Pennsylvania - New Jersey - North Dakota

Posted on March 30, 2008
The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania is formulating new policies regarding public access to court case files. The Notice from the court highlights the proposed removal of Social Security numbers and bank account numbers from future court files...

Guide to phone records privacy

Posted on March 30, 2008
Selected Laws Governing the Disclosure of Customer Phone Records by Telecommunications Carriers, a recently released Congressional Research Service report, summarizes the laws, legislation and congressional actions related to telephone call log records...

Database of the day: Professional License Disciplinary Actions

Posted on March 19, 2008
While some people may endeavor to scrub their online reputation, most people aren’t concerned about personal information on the Internet. Investigators make use of formally and unintentional, detrimental and laudatory personal information that’s posted online to check the background of witnesses, jurors, plaintiffs, defendants, insurance claimants, potential business associates or employees and anyone whose reputation [...

Database of the Day: California Escrow Agents’ Employees Disciplinary Actions

Posted on March 12, 2008
Search by name or partial name to find disciplinary actions by the California Department of Corporations against employees of escrow agents. Results provide full name, date of action and the restriction imposed. This database contains listing of individuals that, from January 1, 1991 to the present, have been censured, suspended, or barred by the California Department [...

Database of the Day: Small Business Administration Loans Approved

Posted on March 05, 2008
Find companies and loans they’ve acquired through the Small Business Administration business loans approved database. Search by approval year and state to get a list of all companies receiving SBA loans, with the loan amount, approval date and city where the company is based...

Diploma Mills

Posted on March 01, 2008
Find accrediting agencies and accredited institutions of higher learning at the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education Web site. Search by region, state, school, accrediting agency, institution, address or city. The list of search results includes address, phone number, Web site, name of accrediting institution and original date of accreditation...

Database of the Day: Alameda County Sheriff Inmate Locator

Posted on February 25, 2008
Alameda County, California has not been as advanced as other counties making public records available on the Internet. The Alameda County Sheriff joins other Sheriff departments which have created a database of current inmates. Lest public records become too easy to access, identification of inmates requires full first and last name, or PFN...

Database of the Day: Colorado Notaries

Posted on February 23, 2008
Verify a current notary registration by partial last name at the Colorado Secretary of State site. Returns full name, city, zip code and, start and end dates of the notary commission. It does not include expired registrations. Find other statewide databases of notary commissions at this SearchSystems link.

Database of the day: Albuquerque Gang Registry

Posted on February 11, 2008
The Albuquerque Police Department has established a registry of gang members who have been convicted of a violation of the Albuquerque Anti-Gang Ordinance. As of yet, there are no convictions, but records will be in an alphabetical directory and include a photo, the full name, the offense committed, the date of conviction and a [...

This week in databases: California - Connecticut - Immigration Doctors - DEA Registrant Actions

Posted on February 07, 2008
Those who research historical records - as I do for Quiet Title actions, family history and heir locates - will find the new California Voter Registrations - 1900-1968, supplied by Ancestry.com very helpful. You can search a name for free, but a subscription is required to view an image of the record...

Violence Registries

Posted on January 26, 2008
I guess the sex offender registries have been a sufficiently popular idea that states are continuing to create boutique criminal records databases. Baltimore, Maryland recently approved legislation that would create a public Gun Offenders Registry, requiring those convicted of gun related offenses register their name, address, and photograph with the police department...

Comparing free real estate research

Posted on January 16, 2008
The free real property databases are extending their geographical coverage and the types of features that delight investigators. Zillow has a fly-on-the-cyber-wall feature that will be appreciated by lawyers and investigators: number of total and recent month page views for a particular property...

Around the Internet: Registration Lookups

Posted on January 14, 2008
I was setting out to write about state lookup and registration of “Do Not Call” and “No Call” phone numbers. More on this in a moment. I’m diverging to mention a few voter registration lookup links. The Federal Voting Assistance Program, U...

This week in public records: Colorado - Nevada - Vermont

Posted on January 10, 2008
The Colorado Board of Medical Examiners is expanding the range of information on doctors at its site. This data on new licensees is expected to be posted April 2008, but will only be gathered and posted for current licensees in 2009. The following information will be disclosed: * Name * [...

California Private Investigators Help Florida Authorities Nab CyberStalker

Posted on January 08, 2008
Here’s a very positive story about a PI firm in California that was working on a local case stumbled upon a teen MySpace cyberstalker. As a result of their investigation, Lee County Sheriff’s Office made an arrest in the Southwest Florida county...

Louisiana Private Investigator Files Complaint with US Postal Service

Posted on January 08, 2008
Don’t mess with Louisiana private-eye Stephanie Ware. She received a ticket in the mail with the phrase “official government business” on the envelope. After further investigation she determined that the company who sent this notice was a non-governmental entity...

Private Investigator Develops Evidence To Release Man Imprisoned for 21 Years

Posted on January 08, 2008
Bill Clutter’s work as an Illinois private investigator has helped to free two men and is a perfect example of the how investigators in the private sector are an asset to the public. Bill is also the director of investigations for the Downstate Illinois Innocence Project at the University of Illinois at Springfield...

Ohio BWC Worker Allegedly Admits to Selling Data to Private Investigator

Posted on January 05, 2008
Here we go again, another incident involving a private investigator that tarnishes the reputation of an entire profession all in the name of making a quick buck. A local Ohio newspaper is now reporting that a worker at the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has allegedly admitted to selling the Social Security numbers and other [...

Global Economy Opens Many Doors to International Investigations

Posted on January 04, 2008
An article by CFO.com reports that a recent Ernst & Young survey of more than 300 corporate-development officers and other finance professionals found that many companies use forensic techniques, including hiring private investigators, to learn more about local market dynamics and the people involved in a potential deal...

Alleged Jailbreaker Poses as Private Investigator

Posted on January 04, 2008
Here’s another example of a dumb criminal with a twist. It appears that two Mississippi men thought they could actually help free their buddy in a Wilkinson County jail using forged court documents with one of the men posing as a private investigator...

Private Investigator License May Be Required for Computer Forensics

Posted on January 04, 2008
Computer Forensic professionals are quickly finding out that several states are now requiring them to be licensed as private investigators. A recent article in Baseline Magazine details how legislators in South Carolina have introduced pending legislation where “digital forensic evidence gathered for use in a court in this state must be collected by a person [...

Database of the Day: Inactive Voters Lists

Posted on January 02, 2008
Some states, counties and towns list current registered voters on a Web site. But you might also look for databases and PDF files that voter registrars and town clerks compile of formerly registered voters. States and local agencies variously refer to these non current registered voters lists as purged, inactive or excluded...

This week in public records: Massachusetts - Illinois - Washington

Posted on December 31, 2007
Town registrars in Massachusetts publish an annual “street list” of local resident names, dates of birth, occupations, veteran status and nationality, which has been a public record. A state Senate bill would change that status, from one of a public record, to one that is only available for federal, state and local governmental use...

The armchair investigator: Employment background on the Internet

Posted on December 29, 2007
The online telephone directory, 411.com isn’t just for finding listed telephone numbers. Use it to identify current employment or to expand the employment history profile of your subject. A search on my name in California returned 40 results. Some are home listings, but other records are work contacts...

The armchair investigator: Social Media and Teens

Posted on December 24, 2007
The Pew Internet & American Life Project report, Teens and Social Media, supports the continuing importance of the Internet for due diligence, background, employment and skip tracing investigations, as well as, reputation research and even surveillance for legal and insurance matters...

This week in public records: New York - Minnesota - Vermont

Posted on December 23, 2007
The New York Court of Appeals supported the private real property data vendor, Data Tree, in its quest to secure an electronic version of property records. New York Court of Appeals Rejects Reporters Committee Rationale, Access Reports, December 20, 2007...

Database of the Day: Historical SEC Records

Posted on December 13, 2007
The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Access to Archival Databases (NARA AAD) maintains searchable collections of government records and indexes online. The most popular are military: World War II Army Enlistment Records, Records on Korean War Dead and Wounded Army Casualties, Records of World War II Prisoners of War and Records with Unit [...

Monday, December 10 FTC workshop on Social Security numbers

Posted on December 09, 2007
This 1 1/2 day workshop starts at 8:30am and will be Webcast. The agenda of topics and speakers from government and commerce, and professional and advocacy groups, is prominently sprinkled with privacy activists who take absolutist positions against access by private investigators to credit bureau and government records that contain Social Security numbers...