Straightline International Provides Instant Criminal Record Search Turn Around Times Online and It's Free

Now you can get Straightline International’s pricing and turn around times online—and it’s free!
Absolutely the pre-employment screening industy's most accurate calculation of search turnaround times, Straightline International uses strict parameters to provide their customers with  unparrelled results.
Dennis Brownstein, Chief Operating Officer, of Straightline, professes the belief that once customers start utilizing this free service, a truer understanding of the international marketyplace will arise.
Turnaround times are based on a true 90 day average; not just your ordinary add ‘em up and divide them’ type average, either.
It pays to take a look at this ingenious Site.  Free of charge. Be our guest at:
http://www.straightlineinternational.com/
Click on the map for your choice of turnaround time and pricing.

The Background Investigator February Edition Is Now Online

Today, February 1st, 20011, Steven Brownstein announces that The Background Investigator's February edition is now available online at http://www.thebackgroundinvestigator.com/

He (Steven Brownstein) would also like to remind you that The Background Investigator is available free in printed newspaper format delivered to your door anywhere in the world.

Getting Things Done -Public Access To Court Records

by Steven Brownstein

"You can't do that."
I still hear those words.
Since 1989.
"Can't do that. Not there. It's not public access."
I didn't heed those words.
Instead, I became a pioneer in public record access.
Today we all agree it is a matter of fact - "can do that."
Why?
Because I trusted my ability.
I believed in the system.
I knew it could be done.
Now public access is being taught in universities.
Why?
Because it can be done.

The Real Deal Behind India's Criminal Record Searches

by Steven Brownstein
Criminal Records History Retrieval  - India
Briefly (we will use Bangalore, Karnataka as an example):
India is divided into states. Karnataka, as an example, is a state in India.  Karnataka is divided into Districts (similar to U.S. counties). Each District is comprised of cities, towns, and villages. Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka and the seat of the District of Bangalore.
Criminal records are available to the public at many levels. At the end of this tutorial, we will explain the differences and benefits of each type of record search.
India Police and Record Keeping
Thare are several levels of police in India. From the bottom up:
Local police
City Police
District Police or State Police
National Police
Local Police Records
The most basic search is at the local police.
Each local police station keeps its own records.
They do not have direct access to city-wide records.
They report information to the City Police.
Note: Most local India researchers use the local police as their source of information.  Most researchers in India call by telephone directly to a local police station for search requests. There is no charge from the local police for this service. Turnaround times vary based on the availability of staff at that police station. They try to determine which police station to check by comparing addresses. One rather large problem incurred by India researchers is the accuracy of  the search as local maps are rarely available to pinpoint the correct local police station.
City Police Records
City Police keep records reported by all the local police stations in the city.
These records are available to the public.
For example, the Bangalore City Police charge Rs200 (about US$5) for a city wide search. Turnaround time is about two weeks. The results include all records for the city of Bangalore.
District or State Police Records
Every District has a State Police District Police Department. The District and State level police records are held by the State Police. These records are not available to the public except in some cases of foreigner arrests.
India Courts And Record Keeping
Each state has a similar court structure, i.e., a High Court, District Courts, and Magistrate Courts.
All court records are public unless sealed by the Court.
Cases heard at the District Court are comparable in the U.S. as felonies and serious misdemeanors.
The court records are computerised. The records are controlled by each state's High Court. The NIC (National Informatics Centre) based in New Delhi controls the computerisation of these records.
All state court records are centralized at the High Court. Computerisation has made this possible. Ideally, one could search all District and Magistrate Court cases at the State (High Court) level.
A previous court hardware glitch in the Court's computer system has made integration not possible at all High Courts so some District or Magistrate Courts need to be individually searched.
Comparison Between Police And Court Searches
The differences between police searches and court searches are glaring.
Local Police Record Check vs. Magistrate Court Search
Local police department searches focus on arrests made at that police station only.
The prosecution of cases from the local police are heard at a Magistrate Court or District Court.
Each Magistrate Court hears cases from several or more local police stations.
Therefore magistrate court cases cover a wider area than local police and are preferable.
City Police Record Check vs. Magistrate Court Search
City police department searches focus on arrests made in that city only.
Since magistrate courts cover only a slice of a city (or District) city police searches are favorable over a magistrate court search as they cover a wider area.
District Court Search vs. City Police Record Check
District Court cases cover all cities in the District. They would include all cases of the type most favorable to U.S. pre-employment screening standards.
District court cases cover a wider area than city police thereby making this the most preferred search (of all search types) barring future access to sate-wide or national records.

Scott Friedman As Keynote Speaker At 2011 NAPBS Annual Conference

Friedman, Scott     
Categories: Customer Service | Humor | Sales | Entrepreneurship
Bio: Scott Friedman is two-time past president of the Colorado Chapter of the National Speakers Association and has earned the CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) designation by the National Speakers Association. He serves on its board of directors as president-elect.
After graduating from Southern Methodist University in 1982 with a degree in Marketing and a minor in Psychology, Scott Friedman worked as.... More>>
This speaker's set fee places him/her within the range of: $7,500 and under
Travels From: Colorado

NAPBS Announces Slate Of Directors Nominees

The nominated individuals have been reviewed by the Nominations Committee and met the qualifications for their nominated positions. There are four regular director positions and one associate director position to be filled.
The slate will be voted on by primary regular and associate members during the Opening Ceremony on Sunday, March 20, 2011, in conjunction with the Annual Conference in Denver, CO.

Regular Member Directors
Angela Bosworth (2013)
OPENonline
Scott Hall (2013)
FirstPoint Information Resources
Don Owens (2013)
Prime Information Center Inc.
Melissa Sorenson (2013)
Verifications Inc.
Christine Cunneen (2012)
Hire Image
Dawn Standerwick (2012)
Applicant Insight

Associate Directors
Ben Peacock (2013)
Lighthouse Information Services LLC
Dean Carras (2012)
Innovative Enterprises Inc.

Straightline Provides Document Retrieval In Saipan And Guam

Steven Brownstein provides the fastest and the only local public record access service to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Based in Saipan, with easy access to Hagatna, Steven Brownstein provides all public record services through Straightline International (http://www.straightlineinternational.com/)
When you are ready to order your records search, public document, or filing service in Saipan or Guam contact Steven directly.
1-670-256-7000
1-866-909-6678
steveb@search4crime.com
info@straightlineinternational.com

Scotland Disclosure Warns UK Background Screening Companies About Processing Orders From The USA

Some UK screening firms may be violating Government Directives when performing online Basic Disclosures for USA pre-employment screening companies.

The Scotland Discosure Web Site is quite explicit:

"You can only apply online, if your current address is in the UK and if you have been living at this address for at least twelve months. If you do not satisfy these criteria, you will have to apply using a paper application form."
 
The Scotland Disclosure Website publishes this as a reminder to follow the Directive.

The rules can be found at;  http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/apply-online

New Puerto Rico Criminal Record Check

Straightline International introduces a new type of Puerto Rico international criminal record check.

After surveying multiple methods of obtaining Puerto Rico criminal record histories, Dennis Brownstein, Chief Operating Officer of Straightline International, has found a means that wil increase the hit ratio of your Puerto Rico criminal background search.

Combining several publicly availablecriminal data sources, including a name and social security number check, Straightline International offers the unveiling of the new 'XR2' service.

Hit ratios are shown to increase more than 3% rather than using the old standard means of court record search.

Dennis Brownstein says that although the standard name search will still be available for those customers who desire that type of search, he wil spend a good portion of this year educating and persuding pre-employment screening companies to make the switch over to the enhanced Puerto Rico criminal search, 'XR2'.

Contact Dennis Brownstein at 1-866-909-6678 for more information.

Steven Brownstein And The Creation Of NAPBS

by Les Rosen, ESR

The Chronology

2000: There is no national trade association, industry standards, or definitive publications on background screening. Steve Brownstein, Publisher of the Background Investigator, holds the first ever background check industry conferences in Long Beach, California and then larger events in Tampa, Florida. Employment Screening Resources (ESR) founder and President Lester Rosen is the keynote speaker at these first industry conferences.

2003: As a result of the Tampa conferences, momentum builds for a professional trade association for the background screening industry. ESR President Lester Rosen serves as the chairperson of the steering committee that founded the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS®), a non-profit trade association representing the interests of background check companies, and serves as the first co-chair. NAPBS seeks to “…promote ethical business practices, promote compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and foster awareness of issues related to consumer protection and privacy rights within the background screening industry. The Association provides relevant programs and training aimed at empowering members to better serve clients and to maintain standards of excellence in the background screening industry.”

Important Notice From Scotland Disclosure

There are many attempts by USA companies through UK screening firms to order online Basic Disclosures.

This is quite improper as The Scotland Discosure Web Site is quite explicit:

"You can only apply online, if your current address is in the UK and if you have been living at this address for at least twelve months. If you do not satisfy these criteria, you will have to apply using a paper application form."
  http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/apply-online

 Note:
 Straightline International always uses a paper application when performing Scotland Disclosures.  Do you?

Accessing Criminal Records In China

Police records are non-existent as far as public access in China and Hong Kong.
There are local notaries that have access to personal records. Those are not used, either.
The court lists are accesible - though (in China mainland) the court authorities are not quite understanding of the need for court records to be searched for pre-employment screening purposes. That doesn't mean we are not allowed to search or have them search the indices; only that they are unfamiliar with terms we use non-chalantly here in the USA.
We search the Provincial Court Court records in each Province. The cases heard at those courts are comparable to felony USA records. They are indexed by name and ID #.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong uses a British system of court records. They are easily accessed at all levels.

Using The CPIC Database For Pre-Employment Purposes

Can you or can't you? That is not the question. Rather, the question is -should you?
• Fact -Only criminal record information concerning indictable and hybrid offences is held by CPIC.
• Fact - The names of persons who have been charged but never convicted cannot be accessed from the CPIC database (with some exceptions).
• Fact - Information stored in local and provincial criminal records systems may or may not be found in the CPIC database. Since there is no legislation in place that requires local police to submit criminal information to CPIC (with the exception of the Young Offenders Act), the criminal records of the central system do not reflect the totality of records that exist.
• Fact - Local or provincial reporting systems contain various record information relating to summary offences (misdemeanors) and provincial statutes not found in CPIC.
According to Les Rosen, NAPBS Chairperson and FCRA-compliance authority,
"There are some counties in certain states that are available on a database. However, employers should never use a criminal database for employment decisions, and should always make sure that a screening company is utilizing the most hands-on means available to obtain criminal records, which is usually an on-site search at the courthouse. There are a number of disadvantages to a database search. First, the database may not be absolutely current. Secondly, not all counties have criminal records on the database. Third, databases are notorious for being inaccurate. Fourth, if an applicant’s name does appear, the actual records must still be pulled from the courthouse. Denying employment based just upon a name in a database without reviewing the actual court file would violate a number of laws and rights of applicants. Employers who rely on databases for employment decisions are opening themselves up to serious lawsuits. The bottom line is that an employer who relies upon such a database, and still hires a person with a criminal record resulting in some claim of damages, may not have the legal protection they thought they had. There would be a considerable legal question as to whether having used a database would provide evidence of due diligence. In other words, databases may well not demonstrate that an employer took reasonable care."
Based on the knowledge of these facts provided by The John Howard Society of Alberta and of the opinions expressed by Les Rosen, indeed, rather than could I use the CPIC database, a question you need ask yourself is should I.

Doing Background Checks in Germany

The Background Investigator Investigates Germany.

Last month, as part of a new ongoing series, The Background Investigator, sent its attorney to Germany to explore the availability of criminal records. The results of this first investigation series appears below.

Investigating Germany
by Fred Frankel,
Attorney at Law

It is well established that one may obtain a search in Germany by filling out the proper application and paying the appropriate fee to the (German Central Records Bureau). The difficulty in this process is that the (German Central Records Bureau) requires a Power of Attorney in both English and German. The Power of Attorney must be approved by the (German Central Records Bureau) and still the (German Central Records Bureau) may not release the information to a third party. This process is further found to be impractical due to the rising costs involved. The last price I was quoted was 11 English pound or around 17 dollars.
I recently made a trip to Munich Germany in an effort to gain access to criminal records. I went to the Amstgericht and found that they do not have public access computers for criminal records. Access to records at the courts is very limited and unless you are a party to the case or the attorney you are not granted access. However, when I went to the office of the prosecutor and asked to have a name of a client searched I was provided with the results of the search. Based upon the results if necessary I would be able to pull the file at the courts. This process was similar at the Landsgericht although I found the clerk in the court more helpful when I provided my attorney card. Additionally, providing the clerk with a signed authorization is most helpful in getting them to perform the search.
Obtaining records from the Prosecutor’s office for the entire State of Bavaria is the best method. While the computer database holds the records for all of Bavaria the physical file will be at the Court in which the Case was heard (or at the local prosecutor’s office). This search, unlike the one obtained by the National Criminal Records in Bonn, is not National only State Wide.

The Plight of Zimbabweans and Background Checks

I recently returned from a trip to south central Africa - Zimbabwe. Many of us Americans have never heard of Zimbabwe nor need to; but we in the pre-employment screening industry care.
Their plight is sometimes dependent upon our concerns.
Zimbabwe is under turmoil. Inflation runs rampant. The population is suffering. Staple items such as bread and groceries are in short supply. The population is fleeing across borders.
I was there on a mission to better understand how I could help these immigrants who in search of a better life with the reality of their seeking employment enter countries without proper documentation.
I believe I was successful in my mission. I am now implementing a program whereby employers through pre-employment screening companies can facilitate their efforts to legally hire these immigrants, us providing proper documents and thereby, due diligence.
Today's world needs our service more than ever. It is not just a matter of dollars; it's a matter of life and death.

The Plight of Zimbabweans and Background Checks

I recently returned from a trip to south central Africa - Zimbabwe. Many of us Americans have never heard of Zimbabwe nor need to; but we in the pre-employment screening industry care.
Their plight is sometimes dependent upon our concerns.
Zimbabwe is under turmoil. Inflation runs rampant. The population is suffering. Staple items such as bread and groceries are in short supply. The population is fleeing across borders.
I was there on a mission to better understand how I could help these immigrants who in search of a better life with the reality of their seeking employment enter countries without proper documentation.
I believe I was successful in my mission. I am now implementing a program whereby employers through pre-employment screening companies can facilitate their efforts to legally hire these immigrants, us providing proper documents and thereby, due diligence.
Today's world needs our service more than ever. It is not just a matter of dollars; it's a matter of life and death.

All About England Civil searches

An England Update From Steven Brownstein

For civil searches in
England and Wales:
Need the Name, Address, Town and County to be searched. Each County is a separate search.
The judgments are from three sections:
The County Courts which includes administrative orders and child support agency orders. Second the High Court Judgments and finally the fines from local area justices.
Judgments only remain in the registry for up to seven years from the date of judgment.
The information obtained will include the case number, details of payments or lack of payment and the claimant’s information.

Tips for Local Court Researchers

It's been some time since I was performing searches at a local level (Cook County). But I remember it well.
The public access computers were on the 10th floor of the Daley Plaza (in downtown Chicago).
There the researchers would gather.
It was war. Competition was fierce.
It was pre-Windows. Paper was king.
What that meant was our clients would fax the work to us on their letterhead.
But beware of roaming eyes.
Peeking it wasn't. It was downright glaring - with my competition standing over my shoulder with a pen and piece of paper jotting names and telephone numbers of potential customers.
I had to cover, fold, twist, turn, hide the top of the list that had been sent me - fearing that a competitor would see the name of company sending me the work.
Sometimes it was frustrating. Sometimes it was bordering on lunacracy.
The things done. The stories told.
And now I get to read on a listserv of our Association that researchers are complaining or warning about 'low-balling' prices.
I do not know whether or not high or low pricing is justified in any one county.
That is the vendors' prerogative.
The vendor was complaining that the competition is lowering prices to where they themselves do not want them.
But maybe they are the ones that are overcharging.
The vendor should perform the job the best way they know how and let the results speak for themselves.
If all else fails maybe they are in the wrong business.

Tips for Local Court Researchers

It's been some time since I was performing searches at a local level (Cook County). But I remember it well.
The public access computers were on the 10th floor of the Daley Plaza (in downtown Chicago).
There the researchers would gather.
It was war. Competition was fierce.
It was pre-Windows. Paper was king.
What that meant was our clients would fax the work to us on their letterhead.
But beware of roaming eyes.
Peeking it wasn't. It was downright glaring - with my competition standing over my shoulder with a pen and piece of paper jotting names and telephone numbers of potential customers.
I had to cover, fold, twist, turn, hide the top of the list that had been sent me - fearing that a competitor would see the name of company sending me the work.
Sometimes it was frustrating. Sometimes it was bordering on lunacracy.
The things done. The stories told.
And now I get to read on a listserv of our Association that researchers are complaining or warning about 'low-balling' prices.
I do not know whether or not high or low pricing is justified in any one county.
That is the vendors' prerogative.
The vendor was complaining that the competition is lowering prices to where they themselves do not want them.
But maybe they are the ones that are overcharging.
The vendor should perform the job the best way they know how and let the results speak for themselves.
If all else fails maybe they are in the wrong business.

Background Checks in the Bahamas

The Background Investigator Goes To The Bahamas

In a continuing series, The Background Investigator, is sending its attorneys to various countries around the world to explore the justice systems and bring back to you their findings. This month Fred Frankel visited the Bahamas. Here is his report:

Doing Searches in The Bahamas: What You Need To Know

In the Bahamas, there are two main courts the Supreme Court and the Magistrate Courts.
The magistrate courts are lower courts and the records are split up depending on which of the Courts your case was in.
It makes it very difficult to look up cases by a name since you would need the court number for the computer to search.
You could try all 11 courts but that's not very practical since you cannot do the searches yourself - the clerk at the computer does them.
The Supreme Court is a little more organized but there computer records are not very accurate.
The best place to search is the Police Department. There is an office devoted solely to issuing background certificates. This office is very helpful and you can obtain information but it needs to be done in person. The warrants department is the most extensive database since it will have arrests and convictions where the other records office generally only has convictions.