Official Blog of The Background Investigator (www.thebackgroundinvestigator.com) and Straightline International (www.straightlineinternational.com).
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
'EU lawmakers to beef up data protection laws
'EU lawmakers to beef up data protection laws
European Union lawmakers were set to approve sweeping new data protection rules to strengthen online privacy, and sought to outlaw most data transfers to other countries' authorities to prevent spying.
The draft regulation was beefed up after Edward Snowden's leaks about allegedly widespread U.S. online snooping to include even more stringent privacy protection and stiff fines for violations. The legislation is poised to have significant implications for U.S. Internet companies, too.
The rules would for the first time create a strong data protection law for Europe's 500 million citizens, replacing an outdated patchwork of national rules that only allow for tiny fines in cases of violation.
Supporters have hailed the legislation as a milestone toward establishing genuine online privacy rights, while opponents have warned of creating a hugely bureaucratic regulation that will overwhelm businesses and consumers.
The legislation was widely expected to pass a committee vote late. Still, it is likely to be amended later since it also requires approval by Parliament's plenary and the EU's 28 member states. Lawmakers hope to conclude the process before the end of their term in May.
The legislation, among other things, aims at enabling users to ask companies to fully erase their personal data, handing them a so-called right to be forgotten. It would also limit user profiling, require companies to explain their use of personal data in detail to customers, and mandate that companies seek prior consent. In addition, most businesses would have to designate or hire data protection officers to ensure the regulation is properly applied.
Grave compliance failures could be subject to a fine worth up to 5 percent of a company's annual turnover _ which could be hundreds of millions of dollars, or even a few billion dollars for Internet giants such as Google.
"Those companies are making billions from European citizens' data. So if you want them to comply, you have to give them the right incentives," said Giacomo Luchetta of the Center for European Policy Studies.
All companies offering services to EU citizens, regardless of where they're based, would have to comply with the new rules, he added.
In response to the revelations of the National Security Agency's online spying activities, lawmakers also toughened the initial draft regulation, prepared by the European Commission, to make sure companies no longer share European citizens' data with authorities of a third country, unless explicitly allowed by EU law or an international treaty.
That means a U.S. tech company handing over data to U.S. authorities, including information on its European customers, might be violating EU law.
In practice, the provision would protect European citizens from seeing their data transferred for commercial purposes, but there are practical hurdles and loopholes that, among others, would still allow cooperation on national security matters, said Luchetta.
"If an American company gets a court order to hand over data, they have to comply," he said. "The U.S. court doesn't care whether you may be violating EU laws, and at the same time the EU has no power over U.S. court decisions."
Overall, the legislation has been subject to fierce lobbying over the past 18 months, and there are a record-breaking 4,000 proposed amendments to it. If 's vote is delayed, lawmakers will resume their deliberations on .
In a move welcomed by consumer groups and businesses, the regulation also introduces a so-called one-stop-shop approach, meaning companies would only have to deal with the national data protection authority where they are based in the EU, not with 28 national watchdogs.
Consumers, in turn, would be able to file complaints with their national authority, regardless of where the targeted service provider is based. For example that would make it easier for an Austrian consumer to complain about a social media site such as Facebook, which has its EU headquarters in Ireland.
Meanwhile, the National Security Agency leaks continued to stir unrest among European policy makers.
French leaders appeared angry on upon learning that NSA allegedly recorded 70.3 million French telephone records within a month, and called for a swift implementation of tough privacy rules to govern the tech sector.
"It is an important industry, but you cannot develop this industry if there is no personal data protection," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said in Luxembourg.
Throw Us All The Scare Bombs You Can - we're Ready
EU lawmakers to beef up data protection laws.'
That's garbbing the EU headlines.
European Union lawmakers were set to approve sweeping new data protection rules to strengthen online privacy, and sought to outlaw most data transfers to other countries' authorities to prevent spying.
The EU is attempting to stop all data transfers out of their countries with one exception:
And that exception exceeds all the controls that they can muster.
That is, consent.
Consent by the individual trumps all their initiatives.
it is even written into the new guidelines:
"The legislation, among other things, aims at enabling users to ask companies to fully erase their personal data, handing them a so-called right to be forgotten. It would also limit user profiling, require companies to explain their use of personal data in detail to customers, and mandate that companies seek prior consent. In addition, most businesses would have to designate or hire data protection officers to ensure the regulation is properly applied.
The use of the word, 'enable' means just that. A person has to consent to enable. All other information in this 'beefed up' law would be secretarial at best.
We do need to manage records.
We do need to designate a data protection officer or hire one to ensure the standards are met.
So what? We're already doing it.
It must be election time in Europe. Knock the Americans.
New 'Policy' Decision Causes Ruckus and Commotion at Saipan Airport
In yet another rogue decision made in Immigration by US Immgration officials, USA citizens arriving on Asiana Airlines flight 605 from Incheon, Seoul, South Korea were held back from entering USA immigration until an earlier flight arrival of 200 Japanese tourists from Narita, Tokyo Japan cleared the process.
Arriving American citizens looked in amazement as they were told they could not proceed into immigration until the previous arrival has passed through.
Fifteen minutes later, and the Japanese visitors to America were still straggling along the corridor a slight ruckus erupted.
Coincidentally, the Asiana Airlines operations manager for Saipan was also one of those held back by security guards and restraining tape.
He said their airline was recently notified by US Immigration that (Immigration) would process only one airplane arrival at at time, in order of arrival.
Immigration officers, when asked about this decision, could only raise their eyebrows in disbelief and comment pretty much that 'they only work here.'
You could hear grumbles and see the shrugging of shoulders as many of the arriving passengers in Saipan are becoming used to arbitrary, and not too bright managerial decisions coming from Saipan Immigration and Border Control officials.
One could almost see the Immigration managers patting each other on their backs and slapping high fives at their new 'genius' plan.
So let's see how this plays out in the USA.
These same glad-handed managers come up with this policy at LAX, JFK, ORD, DFW, and MIA.
First plane in, several hundred passengers arrive, all other arriving planes ( Need I say and tens of thousands of passengers) need not rush. Just sit tight in your seats or behind restraints, and wait your turn - say 15 minutes or an hour or two, until the other plane's through. We'll get to you sooner or later. One plane at a time.
Well, you see the point.
The bottom line is, who is in charge in Saipan -
The USA or the rogue, mad scientist type Immigration managers most likely volunteering for Saipan duty and probably not the swiftest in the Service types whose dream it is to manage a USA mainland assignmen but just not good enough, whose bird brained ideas stick it in the face of all Americans who are travelling back to our country?
I score this one for 'The inmates running the Asylum."
Get rid of this policy. It's stupid and annoying.
Arriving American citizens looked in amazement as they were told they could not proceed into immigration until the previous arrival has passed through.
Fifteen minutes later, and the Japanese visitors to America were still straggling along the corridor a slight ruckus erupted.
Coincidentally, the Asiana Airlines operations manager for Saipan was also one of those held back by security guards and restraining tape.
He said their airline was recently notified by US Immigration that (Immigration) would process only one airplane arrival at at time, in order of arrival.
Immigration officers, when asked about this decision, could only raise their eyebrows in disbelief and comment pretty much that 'they only work here.'
You could hear grumbles and see the shrugging of shoulders as many of the arriving passengers in Saipan are becoming used to arbitrary, and not too bright managerial decisions coming from Saipan Immigration and Border Control officials.
One could almost see the Immigration managers patting each other on their backs and slapping high fives at their new 'genius' plan.
So let's see how this plays out in the USA.
These same glad-handed managers come up with this policy at LAX, JFK, ORD, DFW, and MIA.
First plane in, several hundred passengers arrive, all other arriving planes ( Need I say and tens of thousands of passengers) need not rush. Just sit tight in your seats or behind restraints, and wait your turn - say 15 minutes or an hour or two, until the other plane's through. We'll get to you sooner or later. One plane at a time.
Well, you see the point.
The bottom line is, who is in charge in Saipan -
The USA or the rogue, mad scientist type Immigration managers most likely volunteering for Saipan duty and probably not the swiftest in the Service types whose dream it is to manage a USA mainland assignmen but just not good enough, whose bird brained ideas stick it in the face of all Americans who are travelling back to our country?
I score this one for 'The inmates running the Asylum."
Get rid of this policy. It's stupid and annoying.
Phyllis Asks Is there anything like wants and warrants in Thailand
Phyllis Asks
Is there anything like wants and warrants in Thailand? Tom from txxxxs investigations wants to know.
Yes there are warrants. Costs can go up as they are individualized. It is not something done lightly nor in bulk for pre employment screening. This tool is used on an individual basis - Usually we get this request attached to an in depth search.
The warrants would not include small bench warrants for non appearance at summary court hearings. It would include, if not sealed, mid level drug and prostitution workers, tourist predators, drug king pins and war lords.
The search is at the Royal Thai Police and Justice of Ministry.
Our service will not start without an approved spending of $900.
Time is not the riding issue. The answer is.
Allow several days for meetings with Thais before processing commences.
Cost could be US$0 to US$900 depending on the targeted subject.
An free Internet search of Interpol top ten or Thai Police most wanted lists would be what the average USIS, Hireright, Sterlings, would use and sell.
Low quality. More like no quality. Free search on Internet.
Our service is in on ground in Thailand, with the authorities. Questions are asked. therefore the costs.
Steven Brownstein
Is there anything like wants and warrants in Thailand? Tom from txxxxs investigations wants to know.
Yes there are warrants. Costs can go up as they are individualized. It is not something done lightly nor in bulk for pre employment screening. This tool is used on an individual basis - Usually we get this request attached to an in depth search.
The warrants would not include small bench warrants for non appearance at summary court hearings. It would include, if not sealed, mid level drug and prostitution workers, tourist predators, drug king pins and war lords.
The search is at the Royal Thai Police and Justice of Ministry.
Our service will not start without an approved spending of $900.
Time is not the riding issue. The answer is.
Allow several days for meetings with Thais before processing commences.
Cost could be US$0 to US$900 depending on the targeted subject.
An free Internet search of Interpol top ten or Thai Police most wanted lists would be what the average USIS, Hireright, Sterlings, would use and sell.
Low quality. More like no quality. Free search on Internet.
Our service is in on ground in Thailand, with the authorities. Questions are asked. therefore the costs.
Steven Brownstein
Monday, October 14, 2013
Steven Brownstein Corroborates Connection Between Typhoons and Earthqaukes
Having remembered an obscure passage in an article, the 2002 Lander et al. report about the connection between typhoons and earthquakes, Brownstein attempted to contact the authors of that report.
Having little success at the time of reaching the authors, he contacted this newspaper to publish this release to corroborate their findings in hope that they may see this and inspire more research into the matter.
It is little known phenomena like this that can increase our knowledge of the physics of this planet and at the same times increase public awareness about potential dangers of an event previously unheralded.
About the Lander Report:
A 2002 study by geologists James Lander and Lowell Whiteside of the University of Colorado and Paul Hattori from the US Geological Survey Guam Geophysical Observatory examined the history of tsunami events on Guam over the last 200 years.
Interestingly, the Lander report also considered the seemingly apparent connection of large earthquakes and typhoon activity on Guam. For example, the August 1993 earthquake was closely associated with Typhoon Steve. Perhaps, the authors suggest, the winds generated from typhoons, along with appropriate high stresses in earthquake regions, can trigger an earthquake. Or, pressure changes from the extreme low pressures associated with typhoons can hypothetically cause the land to rise under a reduced load and result in an earthquake.
The model for this seems to work for an earthquake that occurs under land, but for an earthquake under the ocean, there may be another mechanism involved. In the case of the August 1993 quake, the eye of Typhoon Steve, an area of relative calm, passed 80 km north of the island, with winds pushing Guam and the Philippine plate to the northwest. This movement, the Lander studies asserts, may have reduced the friction between the Pacific and Philippine plates which resulted in the strong earthquake. Furthermore, in a look at the history of earthquakes and typhoons on Guam, Lander et al observed that far more earthquakes occur within one day of the arrival of typhoons, than any other day in the 10 days before or 10 days after a typhoon has passed Guam at its nearest approach to the island.
Read at: http://guampedia.com/tsunami-and-earthquake-history-and-potential-for-guam/
About The Philippines Earthquake October 11, 2013:
Last Friday, October 11, 2013, a paragraph written in an article published in the Philippine Star newspaper:
Quake jolts Aurora minutes before Santi
By Evelyn Macairan (The Philippine Star) | Updated October 13, 2013 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines - A 3.7 magnitude earthquake struck Baler, Aurora late Friday night, reportedly 15 minutes before Typhoon Santi made landfall in the province.
The quake, according to government seismologists, triggered an Intensity 3 tremor in Jomalig, Quezon.
The epicenter of the quake, which struck at 10:45 p.m. Friday, was traced at 69 kilometers southeast of Baler.
Several unsuccessful attempts have been made to reach the authors of the Landers Report.
Read at: http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/10/13/1244519/quake-jolts-aurora-minutes-santi
About Steven Brownstein:
Steven Brownstein
The Background Investigator
Box 10001 Saipan, MP 96950
findcrime@aol.com
Website Design and Content Management by 1250 Media
2013 The Background Investigator. All Rights Reserved.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Straightline simplifies compliancy between personal Data and information regulation
Compliancy issues need to be better defined to fully understand the issues that beset a pre-employment screening company.
Actually, the issues are quite clear and simple - easy to understand.
Privacy laws cover personal data. That is information about an individual regardless of where it is stored. Many countries enacted privacy data regulations to protect the individual. Remember that, it is to protect the individual and not the government.
Personal data is about the person. To access another's personal data what is needed is consent. That is it. There is no regulation to prevent any individual from giving you their information. There is no regulation preventing an individual to give you the right to any their information. Anywhere.
Perhaps the one issue that confuses pre-employment screeners the most is information regulation. Information regulation is simply that - the regulation of dissemination of information by a government to whomever the regulation is directed, business or personal. That is, such as, not allowing a third party access to another's information.
The reasons for the regulations are varied. The regulations can be to protect the government, as in a dictatorship, or the government can regulate information under the pretext of protecting the individual.
Regardless, there is no regulation anywhere that prohibits an individual from allowing another the access to their information. In other words, a person can hand you any document of theirs they please. Their is no regulation anywhere barring that.
Data privacy and information regulation are two separate things. It is only when one lumps data privacy incorrectly with information regulation or vice-versa that confusion sets in.
Actually, the issues are quite clear and simple - easy to understand.
Privacy laws cover personal data. That is information about an individual regardless of where it is stored. Many countries enacted privacy data regulations to protect the individual. Remember that, it is to protect the individual and not the government.
Personal data is about the person. To access another's personal data what is needed is consent. That is it. There is no regulation to prevent any individual from giving you their information. There is no regulation preventing an individual to give you the right to any their information. Anywhere.
Perhaps the one issue that confuses pre-employment screeners the most is information regulation. Information regulation is simply that - the regulation of dissemination of information by a government to whomever the regulation is directed, business or personal. That is, such as, not allowing a third party access to another's information.
The reasons for the regulations are varied. The regulations can be to protect the government, as in a dictatorship, or the government can regulate information under the pretext of protecting the individual.
Regardless, there is no regulation anywhere that prohibits an individual from allowing another the access to their information. In other words, a person can hand you any document of theirs they please. Their is no regulation anywhere barring that.
Data privacy and information regulation are two separate things. It is only when one lumps data privacy incorrectly with information regulation or vice-versa that confusion sets in.
Straightline International Offers Help With Understanding International Compliance
Straightline International is introducing a new service allowing pre-employment screening companies access to labor and employment lawyers from various countries worldwide.
This service is being added because of the confusion surrounding privacy data and information regulation. Most likely background checking checking companies have issues with information regulation - that is, what is allowed for third parties to directly access and to what extent that information can be processed and used,
This is not to be confused with privacy data, though that service will be avaailble, too. Privacy data is merely the consent of the individual to the use of their personal data. Note: Remember, consent is the overriding derivative.
Straightline International believes this service will be most useful and beneficial for pre-employment screening firms to navigate the international waters allowing a more fluid and productive use of global information.
Look to their Web Site beginning November 1st, 2013 for continous updates to their legal resource database.www.straightlineinternational.com
Monday, August 19, 2013
Steven Brownstein Sponsors Volleyball Tournament
Steven Brownstein announces the sponsorsoring of the 'End of Summer' beach volleyball tournament to be held Saturday, August 31, 2013, at the Godfather's Beach Bar, Fiesta Hotel, in Saipan.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Background Checks - How To Avoid Criminal Record Mistakes And Lawsuits
I'd say it's getting out of hand.
I've never seen so many lawsuits filed against pre-employment screening companies at one time.
And the reasons are ridiculous to begin with.
Not the plaintiff's reasons.
The reason the lawsuits are proliferating are the many errors in reporting criminal records.
Simple, needless errors. That only a little thought put behind the work could prevent.
Mistakes of DOB? Come on. Give me a break.
The inability to correct a mistaken record in the allotted time?
Spelling discrepancies, name only matches that aren't the name?
What - are we frozen in time?
There is a saying that goes "all criminal records are created equal."
That doesn't go for common sense.
Surely that can't be equal looking at the mistakes going around causing these lawsuits.
Is it the criminal record retriever in the field or your office help?
Is it the fast paced 'got to get the result out' to the customer ethic that we have established in our effort to differentiate ourselves from the competition?
Is it poorly trained, poorly paid line staff at your company that do not know how to read or write a criminal record?
Is it the records retriever that reports anything and everything remotely close for fear of losing business?
Either way, it's in the reporting.
It's in theirs and it's in ours.
It's time to turn the switch on and the lawsuits off.
I've never seen so many lawsuits filed against pre-employment screening companies at one time.
And the reasons are ridiculous to begin with.
Not the plaintiff's reasons.
The reason the lawsuits are proliferating are the many errors in reporting criminal records.
Simple, needless errors. That only a little thought put behind the work could prevent.
Mistakes of DOB? Come on. Give me a break.
The inability to correct a mistaken record in the allotted time?
Spelling discrepancies, name only matches that aren't the name?
What - are we frozen in time?
There is a saying that goes "all criminal records are created equal."
That doesn't go for common sense.
Surely that can't be equal looking at the mistakes going around causing these lawsuits.
Is it the criminal record retriever in the field or your office help?
Is it the fast paced 'got to get the result out' to the customer ethic that we have established in our effort to differentiate ourselves from the competition?
Is it poorly trained, poorly paid line staff at your company that do not know how to read or write a criminal record?
Is it the records retriever that reports anything and everything remotely close for fear of losing business?
Either way, it's in the reporting.
It's in theirs and it's in ours.
It's time to turn the switch on and the lawsuits off.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Do Record Retrievers Falsify Cook County Criminal Record Searches
There was a lot of cheating going on doing Cook County criminal record searches in the early 1990's.
I don't know if this still continues today. I would think not because most Cook County criminal records are now inputted with dates of birth.
And it was the lack of identifiers that led the unsrupulous to cheat.
There was a fellow named Ron, or Juhn, Jose..I care not to repeat his full name. He or she might still be checking names for you at the Cook County Courthouse.
I always remember him working out at the Washington Street,10th Floor, Chicago Municipal Court Records Dept.
Back in the 1990's the names were entered into the Cook County database but if it wasn't a felony or from one of the suburban branches dates of birth were omitted from the data entry.
That meant if you had a name match and there was no DOB showing on the computer index you had to order the file from the clerk and search the folder for a document that would have an identifier - a DOB.
And of course wouldn't it be Chicago cases that didn't have the DOB's entered. The busiest court (at least then) in the USA?
So you would have to make a list of all the files you wanted to search and present it to the clerk, who being a government worker, didn't appreciate that he would now have work to do.
If the name wasn't too common usually there would be only a few files to order and everyone was happy.
But get the last name Smith, Brown, Jones, Williams, you know, a very common last name and add a common first name - John, James, Robert, Michael, etc.. the files that needed to browsed through could reach the hundreds.
Plusit was around then that the Clerk's office decided to 'limit' the amount of single name cases that could be ordered at one time - I think it was set at 25.
That took care of their 'work overload.'
But tt all added up to a catastrophe of runaway turn around time.
And a lot of unhappy pre-employemnt screening company customers who couldn't understand what was taking so long even if you explained it a hundred times.
So I'd see this 'John' character order a few files on a common name and then that would be it.
He'd clear it out.
And the pre-employment screening services were happy because their turn around time was so good.
But that riled me up. Here we all were competing for business and this yahoo is clearing names without doing the search.
And some of the background check companies would rave about this guy.
UNBELIEVABLE!
I asked him one day why he did that - clear them out.
And he just looked at me and said that the number of misses that he had didn't add up to all the work he had to do to clear a name. If there was a missed record he would just tell the screening company he 'd check the name again and that would be that.
I imagine he lost a few accounts that way.
But I wasn't imaging it when I recently saw him at the courthouse still checking or clearing names at the Cook County Courthouse.
I don't know if this still continues today. I would think not because most Cook County criminal records are now inputted with dates of birth.
And it was the lack of identifiers that led the unsrupulous to cheat.
There was a fellow named Ron, or Juhn, Jose..I care not to repeat his full name. He or she might still be checking names for you at the Cook County Courthouse.
I always remember him working out at the Washington Street,10th Floor, Chicago Municipal Court Records Dept.
Back in the 1990's the names were entered into the Cook County database but if it wasn't a felony or from one of the suburban branches dates of birth were omitted from the data entry.
That meant if you had a name match and there was no DOB showing on the computer index you had to order the file from the clerk and search the folder for a document that would have an identifier - a DOB.
And of course wouldn't it be Chicago cases that didn't have the DOB's entered. The busiest court (at least then) in the USA?
So you would have to make a list of all the files you wanted to search and present it to the clerk, who being a government worker, didn't appreciate that he would now have work to do.
If the name wasn't too common usually there would be only a few files to order and everyone was happy.
But get the last name Smith, Brown, Jones, Williams, you know, a very common last name and add a common first name - John, James, Robert, Michael, etc.. the files that needed to browsed through could reach the hundreds.
Plusit was around then that the Clerk's office decided to 'limit' the amount of single name cases that could be ordered at one time - I think it was set at 25.
That took care of their 'work overload.'
But tt all added up to a catastrophe of runaway turn around time.
And a lot of unhappy pre-employemnt screening company customers who couldn't understand what was taking so long even if you explained it a hundred times.
So I'd see this 'John' character order a few files on a common name and then that would be it.
He'd clear it out.
And the pre-employment screening services were happy because their turn around time was so good.
But that riled me up. Here we all were competing for business and this yahoo is clearing names without doing the search.
And some of the background check companies would rave about this guy.
UNBELIEVABLE!
I asked him one day why he did that - clear them out.
And he just looked at me and said that the number of misses that he had didn't add up to all the work he had to do to clear a name. If there was a missed record he would just tell the screening company he 'd check the name again and that would be that.
I imagine he lost a few accounts that way.
But I wasn't imaging it when I recently saw him at the courthouse still checking or clearing names at the Cook County Courthouse.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Michigan Announces Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court Now Online But...
A recent press release from The wayne County (Detroit) Michigan 3rd Circuit Court announced that it has made online access available for record checks.
Of course, there is a disclaimer. No telling how many errors there are?
But the real problem is how many pre-employment screeners are going to use this sytem and bypass the 36th District Court - the REAL COURT - with the real information needed for searches to be properly done in Detroit.
The 3rd Circuit is the felony court.
And I think we all know that using the 'we return serious misdemeanors' doesn't hold up anymore. In fact by not doing the 36th District you're missing a lot of those 'serious misdemeanors' that never get to Circuit Court.
Note: 'Serious misdemeanors' at Circuit Court are usually lesser included offenses attached to felony charges, whether added, pleaded, or reduced
.
Did you know that that the 36th District processes more then a half a million cases a year?
Not as many as Cook County. But you still have to go to the courthouse to get a misdemeanor search done.
So even though the press release touted the accessibility to the court, we're still a long way off before we can start saying that that Detroit (wayne County) is online.
Keep hanging in there.
Of course, there is a disclaimer. No telling how many errors there are?
But the real problem is how many pre-employment screeners are going to use this sytem and bypass the 36th District Court - the REAL COURT - with the real information needed for searches to be properly done in Detroit.
The 3rd Circuit is the felony court.
And I think we all know that using the 'we return serious misdemeanors' doesn't hold up anymore. In fact by not doing the 36th District you're missing a lot of those 'serious misdemeanors' that never get to Circuit Court.
Note: 'Serious misdemeanors' at Circuit Court are usually lesser included offenses attached to felony charges, whether added, pleaded, or reduced
.
Did you know that that the 36th District processes more then a half a million cases a year?
Not as many as Cook County. But you still have to go to the courthouse to get a misdemeanor search done.
So even though the press release touted the accessibility to the court, we're still a long way off before we can start saying that that Detroit (wayne County) is online.
Keep hanging in there.
Aside from Steven Brownstein, What Courts Has Your International Court Record Retriever Visited?
Steven Brownstein is probably the most traveled to courts and judiciaries in history.
If you're not using Straightline International you are taking a chance, with your customer's and your business.
It is a fact that most international criminal record retrievers have never been to a court clerk's office - whether
overseas or even in the USA.
They have always used third party vendors - such as Straightline.
"So why not try a few phone calls?" they ask themselves.
And maybe they do.
But where are they calling? What are they doing. They don't know.
Maybe they read about it on the Internet. Certainly not in school or in a book.
One marketing trick that seems to work in this business of pre-employment screening is to cheapen pricing.
I do not mean good quality at low prices.
I mean junk. Like Japanese products after WWII. One week after you buy it - Kaboom! It's broken or worn out.
Steven Brownstein has made an effort to learn and then educate the pre-employment screening community in first, domestic
searches, and the last several decades the international search.
He has seen a lot of opinion come and go but has never seen a concerted effort such as he's done to map the world and its
judicial systems and availability.
The Background Investigator is now in its 13th year.
Before that it was the Pre-Employment Screener.
Over 200 photos have appeared, each a different court from a different part of the world.
He's been there. And more places. He has a larger catalgue of court photos just waiting to be published.
When the going gets rough, he'll take the time and effort to go to that country to get what's needed to solve the problem
at whatever cost - and you never paid a cent more than the standard price.
He knows many instances when a USA vendor would not spend $5 to get more information from a domestic USA court without
giving the customer a head ache or refusing to do it.
And he knows that when the international vendor gets in trouble somehow that search ends up on his desk, even from the
vendor or another third party he sent it to complete.
In this litigious age how can you as a conscientious criminal records buyer even dream of buying a service that can't be
backed up by action?
Buy Straightline.. or buy a lot of E&O insurance!
If you're not using Straightline International you are taking a chance, with your customer's and your business.
It is a fact that most international criminal record retrievers have never been to a court clerk's office - whether
overseas or even in the USA.
They have always used third party vendors - such as Straightline.
"So why not try a few phone calls?" they ask themselves.
And maybe they do.
But where are they calling? What are they doing. They don't know.
Maybe they read about it on the Internet. Certainly not in school or in a book.
One marketing trick that seems to work in this business of pre-employment screening is to cheapen pricing.
I do not mean good quality at low prices.
I mean junk. Like Japanese products after WWII. One week after you buy it - Kaboom! It's broken or worn out.
Steven Brownstein has made an effort to learn and then educate the pre-employment screening community in first, domestic
searches, and the last several decades the international search.
He has seen a lot of opinion come and go but has never seen a concerted effort such as he's done to map the world and its
judicial systems and availability.
The Background Investigator is now in its 13th year.
Before that it was the Pre-Employment Screener.
Over 200 photos have appeared, each a different court from a different part of the world.
He's been there. And more places. He has a larger catalgue of court photos just waiting to be published.
When the going gets rough, he'll take the time and effort to go to that country to get what's needed to solve the problem
at whatever cost - and you never paid a cent more than the standard price.
He knows many instances when a USA vendor would not spend $5 to get more information from a domestic USA court without
giving the customer a head ache or refusing to do it.
And he knows that when the international vendor gets in trouble somehow that search ends up on his desk, even from the
vendor or another third party he sent it to complete.
In this litigious age how can you as a conscientious criminal records buyer even dream of buying a service that can't be
backed up by action?
Buy Straightline.. or buy a lot of E&O insurance!
Why 'Made In Japan' And Recent Criminal Record Researchers' Lower Prices Mean The Same
Lower prices mean less quality when the price cuts are meaningless; that is, when there is no new technology or technique that would precipitate such action.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Race Does Play A Part In Background Checks
In a recent news release, www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/12/prweb10220527.htm, Nick Fishman, EmployeeScreenIQ, testified that when a criminal record is revealed, the background report does not include
race, religion, sexual orientation or other protected class information.
That presents an exciting new twist for the defense of pre-employment screening companies when they get sued by applicants who had not been hired because of a an erroneous criminal record report that wasn't theirs.
Many times the non-hired's complaint includes the fact that the background check company erred in its ways because the person named in the criminal complaint was of a different race than the job applicant.
As if (and here's the kicker) the EEOC wanst the employer to know the race?
Now, I'm not quoting law but I think that adding race to a person's application just might violate some EEOC regulation.
So in fact then, criminal record reporting for pre-employment purposes is blind. The race identifier can not be use for criminal record identification.
It remains up to the job applicant to prove the criminal record is not his or hers.
Thanks, Nick.
That presents an exciting new twist for the defense of pre-employment screening companies when they get sued by applicants who had not been hired because of a an erroneous criminal record report that wasn't theirs.
Many times the non-hired's complaint includes the fact that the background check company erred in its ways because the person named in the criminal complaint was of a different race than the job applicant.
As if (and here's the kicker) the EEOC wanst the employer to know the race?
Now, I'm not quoting law but I think that adding race to a person's application just might violate some EEOC regulation.
So in fact then, criminal record reporting for pre-employment purposes is blind. The race identifier can not be use for criminal record identification.
It remains up to the job applicant to prove the criminal record is not his or hers.
Thanks, Nick.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
NBV TV Doesn't Meet NAPBS Expectations
Maybe they should do background checks on themselves.
One lawsuit Against NBC, "To Catch A Pevert, (Oops Predator)," claimed NBC fired a producer for questioning MBC's ethics - for insisting on 'ethical and accurate reporting on the Predator series.'
Apparently the plaintiff claimed NBC came up short on ethics and accuracy.
Still, NBC replied it was proud of their reporting.
No surprise there. Dazzle them with PR. Also, who would want to publish a story demeaning themselves?
Meanwhile the lawsuit was dismissed for reasons other than innocence and we will never find out if NBC really did those bad things.
Tsk, tsk tsk. Bad NBC.
One lawsuit Against NBC, "To Catch A Pevert, (Oops Predator)," claimed NBC fired a producer for questioning MBC's ethics - for insisting on 'ethical and accurate reporting on the Predator series.'
Apparently the plaintiff claimed NBC came up short on ethics and accuracy.
Still, NBC replied it was proud of their reporting.
No surprise there. Dazzle them with PR. Also, who would want to publish a story demeaning themselves?
Meanwhile the lawsuit was dismissed for reasons other than innocence and we will never find out if NBC really did those bad things.
Tsk, tsk tsk. Bad NBC.
Test Your Chicago Criminal Record's Knowledge
Theses courts are foreign if you are from ouside of the USA.
Unfortunately, they are foreign to most of the criminal record retievers that work in Chicago.
Do you know where in Chicago they are?
India Criminal Record Retrievers Know Squat About India
Here in the USA we are tested to the limit to get criminal records right.
Seems like in India , no one cares.
Even USA companies don't care how they get their criminal records searched in India.
I'm sorry the consumer has to pay the price of this ineptitude.
India HR sre smarter. They don't even buy criminal records from India vendors anymore.
Because India record researchers don't have a clue how to do them.
I say they do no not know otherwise I would have to accuse them of outright fraud.
Here's the latest word on "India searches I received from a company that advertises they're the largest..or maybe that they're the best..whatever.
I asked them to get me city wide police clearances.
Here is their response (they added in their redress ..see below.. to me that I said I couldn't get city wide certifcates. How little they know. That's my specialty. Guess it makes them feel good to think they are not alone!)
I talked with --------- ---------, our Head of India Operations and you are right there cannot be a source to give a city-wide police clearance with a certificate. She said, "No one can get it unless there is a legal case going on. Indian Police Stations validate verbally with nothing in writing." We do city-wide searches but as a rule cannot get a certificate.
I don't think they do anything but call the local police station. That's a big maybe. I imagine you would be hard pressed to actually get a verified statement of their phone bill with the suppossed telephone number they dialed.
Just like police certificates. they probably can't get phone bills, either.
I rate this and most other India criminal record retrievers a 0. A fat goose-egg.
Seems like in India , no one cares.
Even USA companies don't care how they get their criminal records searched in India.
I'm sorry the consumer has to pay the price of this ineptitude.
India HR sre smarter. They don't even buy criminal records from India vendors anymore.
Because India record researchers don't have a clue how to do them.
I say they do no not know otherwise I would have to accuse them of outright fraud.
Here's the latest word on "India searches I received from a company that advertises they're the largest..or maybe that they're the best..whatever.
I asked them to get me city wide police clearances.
Here is their response (they added in their redress ..see below.. to me that I said I couldn't get city wide certifcates. How little they know. That's my specialty. Guess it makes them feel good to think they are not alone!)
I talked with --------- ---------, our Head of India Operations and you are right there cannot be a source to give a city-wide police clearance with a certificate. She said, "No one can get it unless there is a legal case going on. Indian Police Stations validate verbally with nothing in writing." We do city-wide searches but as a rule cannot get a certificate.
I don't think they do anything but call the local police station. That's a big maybe. I imagine you would be hard pressed to actually get a verified statement of their phone bill with the suppossed telephone number they dialed.
Just like police certificates. they probably can't get phone bills, either.
I rate this and most other India criminal record retrievers a 0. A fat goose-egg.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Flawed Criminal Record Record Checks
An interesting set of circumstances occurred recently.
A court database had a glitch (bug, virus, flaw, etc....).
It went like this:
We ran the name ... it came back clear.
We sent the result as clear.
The customer called and said that the applicant admitted he had a criminal record.
So we ran the name again and got a hit.
We ran the name again to double check the result and got the hit again.
What's interesting is at my company we prepare for just this type of happenstance.
Believe me, it doesn't occur often, but....
As part of our quality control program, we save copies where and when we can of search results from courts, police, government entities, etc.
This was a case where we had the backup.
There in black and white, the glitch, flaw, whatever it is, showed up on the different result pages we had; both dated, one clear, one a record from the same court.
And that reminds me of a story when I was a court record retriever in DuPage County, IL.
I would check hundreds of names daily. This was when they first computerized the records in the early 1990's.
There would always be hits. Every day. At least, there should have been.
But one day I ran all hundred some names and they all were clear.
I became a little bit suspicious. Actually, I became quite paranoid.
That's when I remembered an old friend, Professional Ex- World Heavyweight Championship Boxer, Leon Spinks.
I knew, as well as everyone else in Chicagoland, that Leon had moved to the Chicago area from St. Louis and had several DUI cases in DuPage County.
It then struck me to check his name on the database.
And he came back clear - I mean, no record.
That meant all 100 plus name results were flawed. I'd have to run them again.
For this instance though, I paused and asked the clerk what, if anything, they knew about a problem with their database.
To which the she replied that yes they were aware of it.
It was something their IT department was working on.
That was it, non - chalantly , they're working on it.
So that day I had her manually check on 'their' system, not the public access system, the list of names.
She did all of them that day for me.
I had her check Leon Spinks' name first.
The record was present.
And from that day forward every time I did names in DuPage, which was daily, I always, and I mean ALWAYS, checked Leon Spink's name first to make sure that the computer system was working.
And it was never completely fixed; at least back then it wasn't.
I had forgotten that story until today.
This is a problem that is not well understood in our industry.
It is not widely publicized in governmental data processing circles, either.
I am not even sure if anyone is working on it.
What I can say is that the lesson I learned then, we still practice today.
At least at my company we do.
We take into consideration as many flaws that we are aware of and offset them with various means of search types.
We might check multiple sources; adding or refining methods combining to get you the best result.
Real results. Higher hit rates. Less problems down the road.
That's what our XR2 Puerto Rico Search does.
We try to eliminate as many flaws as possible
And like I wrote, earlier, we keep the result data as backup.
Lessons might be forgotten. That's why we practice improvement- to remember, even while others might not even be aware.
That's why I believe you should know, be sure of, that your research company is not just a source that's maybe a few dollars cheaper, maybe a few hours quicker - but someone that you can count on and trust for the utmost service and quality day in and day out.
You can reach me,Steven Brownstein at The Background Investigator or Straightline International. Call Steven Brownstein directly at 1-670-256-7000 or E-mail me at steveb@search4crime.com
A court database had a glitch (bug, virus, flaw, etc....).
It went like this:
We ran the name ... it came back clear.
We sent the result as clear.
The customer called and said that the applicant admitted he had a criminal record.
So we ran the name again and got a hit.
We ran the name again to double check the result and got the hit again.
What's interesting is at my company we prepare for just this type of happenstance.
Believe me, it doesn't occur often, but....
As part of our quality control program, we save copies where and when we can of search results from courts, police, government entities, etc.
This was a case where we had the backup.
There in black and white, the glitch, flaw, whatever it is, showed up on the different result pages we had; both dated, one clear, one a record from the same court.
And that reminds me of a story when I was a court record retriever in DuPage County, IL.
I would check hundreds of names daily. This was when they first computerized the records in the early 1990's.
There would always be hits. Every day. At least, there should have been.
But one day I ran all hundred some names and they all were clear.
I became a little bit suspicious. Actually, I became quite paranoid.
That's when I remembered an old friend, Professional Ex- World Heavyweight Championship Boxer, Leon Spinks.
I knew, as well as everyone else in Chicagoland, that Leon had moved to the Chicago area from St. Louis and had several DUI cases in DuPage County.
It then struck me to check his name on the database.
And he came back clear - I mean, no record.
That meant all 100 plus name results were flawed. I'd have to run them again.
For this instance though, I paused and asked the clerk what, if anything, they knew about a problem with their database.
To which the she replied that yes they were aware of it.
It was something their IT department was working on.
That was it, non - chalantly , they're working on it.
So that day I had her manually check on 'their' system, not the public access system, the list of names.
She did all of them that day for me.
I had her check Leon Spinks' name first.
The record was present.
And from that day forward every time I did names in DuPage, which was daily, I always, and I mean ALWAYS, checked Leon Spink's name first to make sure that the computer system was working.
And it was never completely fixed; at least back then it wasn't.
I had forgotten that story until today.
This is a problem that is not well understood in our industry.
It is not widely publicized in governmental data processing circles, either.
I am not even sure if anyone is working on it.
What I can say is that the lesson I learned then, we still practice today.
At least at my company we do.
We take into consideration as many flaws that we are aware of and offset them with various means of search types.
We might check multiple sources; adding or refining methods combining to get you the best result.
Real results. Higher hit rates. Less problems down the road.
That's what our XR2 Puerto Rico Search does.
We try to eliminate as many flaws as possible
And like I wrote, earlier, we keep the result data as backup.
Lessons might be forgotten. That's why we practice improvement- to remember, even while others might not even be aware.
That's why I believe you should know, be sure of, that your research company is not just a source that's maybe a few dollars cheaper, maybe a few hours quicker - but someone that you can count on and trust for the utmost service and quality day in and day out.
You can reach me,Steven Brownstein at The Background Investigator or Straightline International. Call Steven Brownstein directly at 1-670-256-7000 or E-mail me at steveb@search4crime.com
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Saturday, June 30, 2012
What City is This Court?
In what city is this court?
How about wining some money?
$10 dollars for the first correct answer,
$10 dollars for the first correct answer,
$5 for the 2nd
and a $buck for third
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)