Straightline Unsurpassed When Searching For Puerto Rico Criminal Records

Everyone in the pre-employment screening business has their favorite method or favorite researcher who performs background checks.

In the case of Puerto Rico, many companies use the courts and others use the police.

Unfortunately in today’s litigation happy world that might not be enough.

That’s why Straightline International has begun offering an enhanced search they call the XR2.

Basically, what the XR2 does is consolidate the police and court searches, with a proprietary third and fourth search method using other identifiers you provide.

Listening to Dennis Brownstein, who developed this search, you’ll understand its significance:

“After careful measurement of hundreds of test results comparing common search methods versus my new XR2 search, I can increase your hit ratio on a regular basis just by using the basic information that you are already sending.”

And NAPBS members should particularly take note:

“In some cases, the differences are almost 60%.”

Dennis Brownstein’s experience comes from his engineering background and years in the pre-employment screening industry..

He can patiently sort out and arrange things as attested to by the standard he set for measuring turnaround time.

To get on the ground floor of this exciting new product call Dennis Brownstein at 1-866-909-6678.

Pre-Employment Screening Companies Say My Criminal Record Search Is Better Than Your Search, Part I

I hardly ever hear about the quality of the type of criminal history search performed by hands-on researchers for pre-employment screening companies for background checks.
It is a fact that pre-employment screening companies believe the criminal record search is what differentiates them from each other.
There are a few that "sell" a platform or delivery methods of their background search but the bottom line, even for them, always stops at criminal records.
At the NAPBS and The Background Investigator's pre-employment screening conferences, at both,  an inordinate amount of time is spent of criminal records and the laws surrounding the use of them.
Not much else to talk about there.
But criminal records are what we sell, first and foremost.
And the quality of the searches?
Is this how we differentiate ourselves to our customers?
Many companies (not yours) prefer to commoditize the criminal record.
To them the time and speed of returning the result to the customer is paramount.
There is perhaps a measure of quality control whereby a 'known' record is sent to the researcher in a particular area.
The result is then compared by what the pre-employment screening company has on hand.
I have never been privy to a 100% correct sample of results from the sending of multiple county known criminal  records and I have worked for the largest background check companies in the world.

Knock Knock

"Knock knock."

"Who's there?"

"Bet Her Dan"

"Bet Her Dan Who?"

"Bet Her Dan The Competition!"

Brought to you by Straightline International and Steven Brownstein

For pre-employment screening and international criminal background checks call Straightline International

The Resilience Of The Japanese Is Amazing

Just a little more than a week ago, a giant earthquake and ensuing tsunami devasted the NE coast of Japan pretty much shutting down the whole country's infrastructure.

At that point background checks and pre-employment screening were put on hold; the japanese had more than their share of things to worry about.

Rescue efforts are still ongoing in Miyagi Prefecture. The loss of life is incredibly disheartening. Most private and public services have been extinguished in its aftermath.

Our hearts go out to the survivors and mourning families of those lost in the tragedy.

Straightline International and The Background investigator have done a lot to help alleviate the pressure caused by the earthquake and tsunami.  We have all stood by and even cancelled our trips to the USA for the NAPBS Conference.

Now, though, it is time to praise the Japanese. They have arisen, gotten to their feet, and resumed their lives.

It is with this that I can say that most pre-employment backing screening has resumed in Japan, save for Miyagi Prefecture.

Steven Brownstein Speaks To NAPBS Members About International Background Checks

It began as a side business for Steven Brownstein, who was in the 1990's the USA's largest provider of criminal background searches. With over 60 employees, Steven provided records  24 hours a day, 5 days a week, plus a half-day on Saturdays.

DAC Services, the Tulsa - based sister company had expanded service to Canada and Puerto Rico.  Also, the World Gaming Network, another sister company, based in Las Vegas, was receiving requests for criminal record searches on foreign soil.

That's where Brownstein came in.  He had already built a giant network of record retrievers throughout the US.  He was processing more than 6,000 request per day and turnaround time was excellent.

So that's how it began.

Brownstein flew to Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, Canada to visit the courts.

He knew about the RCMP's CPIC search but found too may flaws in their record keeping , plus a long turnaround time, and actually, too much paperwork had to be collected, submitted, and tracked per request. Not particularly cost effective for pre-employment screening. The contacts he did make at the Canadian courts proved to be invaluable. Good, quality searches with little or no paperwork to handle.

Then he also flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico, met with their staff, and was assigned a public access computer whereby he could come weekly to the court and do searches

This was the beginning of international searches in the USA and he was at the forefront.

His techniques were simple - just continue applying the methods that I used providing USA domestic background checks.

And the techniques were successful. He expanded international search offerings to the total USA pre-emplyment screening industry.

Even though, initially, the quantity of requests was small, Steven Brownstein did see that the end result for foreign searches would be high volume. And as you know, today it is.

Remember, no one was doing international searches. He was the first.

His business expanded and England was the next on the list. He flew to London to run the first ever searches at Horseferry Magistrate Court and the Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court. He ran them successfully, adding he obtained copies of a case from the Crown Court.

That was the beginning. India came next, and so on and so forth.

Quoting Brownstein, "It is my pleasure to continue this dynamic, exponentially growing business opportunity to the pre-employment screening industry. And as one of the first to foresee the beginnings of NAPBS, and having stuck around to see its growth, I say thank you."

Steven Brownstein Provides Guam and Saipan Driver License Record Checks

Motor Vehicle records are available from Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Please include Social Security and drivers license with your order.

For more information call Straightline at 1-866-909-6678 or by E-mail at info@straightlineinternationl.com

Or contact me directly at findcrime@thebackgroundinvestigator.com

You Can Get Free Background Checks Press Releases

Do you have something to say? A new product? A great idea? Send your press release to findcrime@thebackgroundinvestigator.com

The Background Investigator reaches thousands of readers each month through its print edition and countless others through its Web presence.

Many of The Background Investigator's links reach top listing on the Internet.

Press Releases are subject to the editing or refusal by the editorial staff.

So go ahead and get started now. New press releases are being added monthly.

Patience Prevails While Awaiting Japanese Public Record Searches

Luckily, I left Tokyo with my wife, Rhoda, on Thursday, the day before the horrible earthquake and tsunami.
And our island, Saipan, 1500 miles south of Japan, was spared the wrath of a major tsunami, too, barely breaching the 4 foot mark at its peak.

Our homes were spared and no lives were lost.

Now the citizens of Japan face severe hardships.

Court services in most of Japan are slowed or non-existent.

There is no need for me to explain the fact that our searches, then, are also delayed.

Please be patient.

And do what you can to help.

Puerto Rico Mother's Maiden Names

 Make note of this when doing background checks:

 You can have a  problem if you lack providing the mother's maiden name with your Puerto Rico search. 

  Provide the maiden name and your hit ratio climbs dramatically. 

  An example would be Carlos Torres for a search in San Juan.  No record found. 

  Include the mother’s maiden name and voila!

  Or should I say Caramba!

  Carlos Torres Rodriguez, Carlos Torres Ramirez, Carlos Torres diaz… you get the picture. 

  Get the mother's maiden name.

A Letter About Conferences from 2004

Look What I Found —

Read Below

reprinted from March 2004 Edition

The Background Investigator

A Note From The Editor

  The Background Investigator has received many calls asking about our Spring Conference traditionally held in Long Beach. 

  This year (2004) in light of the fact that the NAPBS is holding their first Membership meeting at approximately the same time, and since we support the NAPBS and its goals, The Background Investigator has graciously opted out from hosting our normal Spring Conference.

  This does not mean we will not continue sponsoring conferences.  In fact, our annual November conference, being held at the Sheraton Sand Key Hotel in Tampa, will be bigger and better than ever!

  We would like to see the NAPBS succeed. 

  So support the NAPBS and see you in Tampa this November.

Special Note:

  The NAPBS has positioned its 2011 Fall Conference uncomfortably close date–wise and by location to our Annual Conference in Clearwater so stay tuned for update on when and where our next conference will be held.

Also, Why Join NAPBS?

  Education - The Association provides relevant programs and training to empower its members to better serve clients and set standards within the background screening industry. Training seminars are planned for the Annual Conference and Mid-Year Meeting. Monthly Webinars are offered to members free of charge. The Webinars cover a variety of topics in the pre-employment screening industry.

  Networking - The Annual Conference, scheduled in March or April, provides a forum for members to jointly discuss relevant industry issues and develop mutually-beneficial solutions. Vendor exhibits and educational programs will highlight these events. The Mid-Year Meeting, scheduled in September or October, also provides networking and educational opportunities, as well as a vendor exhibits. NAPBS also has a member ListServ provides an opportunity for subscribers to post questions and get feedback from their industry colleagues.

   Standing Committees - Membership in NAPBS gives you a voice and active involvement when you participate as a committee member on one of NAPBS standing committees.

Dennis Brownstein And Straightline International Makes Record Search Turnaround Time Calculations As Easy As Clicking A Button

Straightline International Makes Record Search Turnaround Time Calculations As Easy As Clicking A Button

My brother, Dennis, is some kind of engineering genius.  While, as a kid,  he was building intricate plastic models, one particularly of a large to-scale aircraft carrier, I was busy planning to see from how high I had to drop a bowling pin to crack the carrier in half once it was afloat.  More on why or how I even got the bowling pin some other time.

Dennis has now devised a turnaround table that is truly astounding.  This turnaround table is another of his engineering feats, not an aircraft carrier mind you, but definitely a large scale undertaking.

It behooves (wasn't this a good time to use that word?) you to take advantage of this tool.

So every time you need to quote your customer you can tell how long it will take a search to be completed.
 It starts with a bell shaped curve that is called normal distribution.  There is the middle of the curve, which is called the mean and then there is how tightly the data is packed around the middle (or mean).  That is called the standard distribution.

Are you a math whiz?  No?   I'm not either but I'll try to explain it in plain old english.

Simply, it means the closer the data (in this case returned search results) to the center of the curve (the mean), the smaller the standard deviation. Which is good for you because it is very easy to calculate that your search will be returned close to the center of the curve.

At a presentation in New Delhi, India, Tejas Sanghvi of Supersoft, was so impressed with Dennis' formula; that it was absolutely the best he ever has ever seen.  "Please leave me a copy," I remember Tejas saying.

Now, Dennis (and I) do not expect you to do the math. That's why we have computers and guys like Dennis who can calculate it with pencil and paper. In fact, Dennis has made it so simple that all you have to do is click a button.

 Go to your Straightline Online-Account and test ride the system. Check one of your searches, the formula is built into the ETA table. It's also built into the pricing and turnaround table.

Dennis can explain it much better than I.  He can even tell you how the standard deviation is built into the table and that the turnaround time reflects an exact calculation of the last 90 days of search results for that jurisdiction. That's why I have mentioned his name so much (and also to let him know how sorry I am for destroying his aircraft carrier).

You can contact Dennis Brownstein at 1-866-909-6678 or E-mail him at dennisb@search4crime.com

As far as the bowling pin goes, didn't everyone as a kid make a bowling alley in their backyard?

The Background Investigator Primer, "How To Do Cook County, IL Criminal Record Searches"

How It's Done In Chicago

Research work in Cook County can be a frustrating experience.  But, with the experience one gains working the computer index in that county an expert it does make.

The Cook County criminal index is computerized and name specific.  In other words, if you type in a name misspelled, such as leaving off the ìhî in ìSmith,î there is little hope of getting a correct result.  You will get Smit. (More likely smitten!)

The index is arranged alphabetically.  That's good.  Felonies and misdemeanors appear on the index.  That's good.

Complete docket information appears on the index.  At least we pray it does!  And  DOB's for misdemeanors has been improved tremendouisly. ..What used to be sorely lacking in that department.is now highly efficient.

DOB's are present from all most cases 1996 -forward.

But older files and those without DOB's on the index still need to be ordered so it can be searched manually for any identifiers.

The ordering process has changed. District 1 Misdemeanor files (from 1996) are now kept in the same building, so what once took two days to be delivered from the warehouse is available on the spot.
But there problems that occur in the ordering/delivery process that can cause delay.  There are ìlostî or ìmisplacedî files,  files that are being ìput back into the system,î files that someone else (the someone else no one knows) has ordered and in that case it could be several weeks until they are put back in the system for re-ordering.

And so on and so forth.

I hope this helps you to understand the Cook County system (or lack of it).  If you do, congratulations!  You have accomplished something most of us pros haven't figured out yet!

Chicago Information

The Circuit Court of Cook County is the largest unified court system in the world. The 2300 person staff of the Clerk of the Circuit Court serves the 5.1 million residents of Cook County within the City of Chicago and its 126 surrounding suburbs in handling the 2.4 million cases filed every year and the millions of pages of pleadings and other documents that pass through the system.

Straightline International Provides Background Checks To Brazil

Straightline International provides expert criminal and court record research in Brazil.

Straightline's accurate service, enhanced by an already expertise, is reflected by its agents in Sao Paulo and Fortaleza.

Coincidentally, recently published in the NAPBS Journal (Feb. 2011,  is an article about Brazil background checks and Brazilian employee screening.

Naturally, one (including the author of the NAPBS article) would write generously about police clearances; undoubtedly not being part of criminal record background checking for pre-employment purposes.

Nevertheless, he wrote a decent article.

The one exception, though, the article in the NAPBS Journal reads that identifiers are difficult to obtain from court records.

On the contrary, identifiers such as addresses and dates of birth are quite common, no more, no less than those found in USA court record files.

Straightline International, distinguishes itself,; one, by being part of the background screening industry, and two, by understanding that police clearance certificates are not the only option for criminal record  histories.

Straightline International’s thoroughly trained records retrievers scour the records at individual courthouses.

And as always, translation from Portuguese to English is no problem for you, the client, as Straightline International, has Portuguese speaking researchers in Brazil and USA, assuring fast dependable service.

Your pre-employment screening records department will appreciate the fact that Straightline delivers performance in Brazil.

Contact Steven Brownstein or Dennis Brownstein at Straightline International, 1-866-909-6678,  or by E-mail,  info@straightlineinternational.com

Cook county Priced So Low I can't Post It Online

Special Deal for all USA Based Pre-employment Screening Companies. Cook County, IL
FCRA compliant search. No database. Courthouse computers used.
Priced so low I can't advertise the price online. Write me or call 1-670-256-7000.

Steven Brownstein
Publisher of "The Background Investigator"
President, StraightLine International
Promoter of "The Pre-Employment Screeners' Conference"
Promoter of "The India Worldwide Pre-Employment Screening Conference"
Whose efforts created the formation of The Pre-Employment Screeners' Association in the USA (NAPBS) and India (IAPBS)
1-670-256-7000
1-670-256-7001 (fax)
findcrime@aol.com
http://www.thebackgroundinvestigator.com/
http://www.straightlineinternational.com/
http://www.hrscreener.com/
http://www.search4crime.com/
Mailing Address: PMB 1007, Box 10001, Saipan, MP 96950 Northern Mariana Islands

Special Pricing for Canadian Criminal Records

Need Ontario or Quebec court records?

Special Deal for all Canadian Based Pre-employment Screening Companies.

Same day access from our Ottawa based researchers.

No database. Courthouse computers used.

Priced so low I can't advertise the price online.

Write me or call 1-670-256-7000.

This picture of the Ottawa, Canada Courthouse was taken by Steven Brownstein.

NAPBS Trying To Raise Money

Even with the tens of thousands of dollars that Straightline International and The Background Investigator annually invests with the NAPBS; there is probaly lots that you can do to help NAPBS.

I received as most all NAPBS members did a bulk E-mail stating that they (NAPBS) needed more money plus an attached survey.

The survey was short of NAPBS asking for money.  Basically, it was a questionnaire of what you would like to buy (perhaps through NAPBS).

Maybe they could offer discounts for E&O insurance.

Meanwhile I just wished the survey they sent was less ambigous.

Regardless, I agree that it would be great for NAPBS to be flush with money and (this more than anything) do good for all members. And I stress all members.

If you have any doubts about NAPBS' financial condition or what their revenues and expenses are any one can ask NAPBS for a copy of their most recent or past financial staement.



You should talk to Kate at NAPBS:  kateeb@imiae.com



Steve Brownstein at Stockholm Court









Skokie Illinois Courthouse Closed After Big Snowstorm

It is rather eerie to see the Skokie, Illinois Courthouse closed as it is one of Chicago's busiest.  Many people were surprised when they arrived there to find it closed. There was no press notification to alert the public to the closing.

  

Cairo And Alexandria, Egypt Court Record Searches Are Temporarily Suspended

Straightline International announces the disruption of court record retrieval and access services in Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt.

This is due to unrest and danger in the two cities.

Luxor and Aswwan continue to operate unimpeded.

Straightline International Leads Industry In Overseas Criminal Record Checks

For the tenth straight year, Straightline International has led the U.S. and world markets in providing criminal record cheks for foreign searches.

According to Steven Brownstein, President of Sraightline International, "This comes as no surprise to me. What Straightline performs can not be outdone by others, especially those that think that by posting a Web Page, a price list, and copy some mumbo-jumbo about how a search is done; those that think that this is the service our industry wants are sorely mistaken."

"In fact," Brownstein continues, "no one in the background check industry comes even close to Straightline International's exacting methods of criminal record extraction.  Straightline actually has been to and visits regularly scores of courthouses around the world in search of access.  This hundred thousand dollar(s) investment pays off in the product that Straightline provides."

Over the years Straightline International has put to work hundreds of private contractors around the world.
Brownstein adds, "This formula works. We at Straightline end up with a trained researcher that can go around the various courts and places of public record access in major cities of the world.  It worked for me at DAC Services setting up the first USA national network of researchers and it's working globally."
Interestingly enough, Straightline International, has most recently added researchers in Istanbul, Turkey and Lisbon, Portugal.

"When it comes to the workforce, whether it is the employer or job applicant, in this time of trying needs and wants, I want everyone to be clear that Straightline International is going to be there to aid in this process."
"That is the secret to our success, ten years running."

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.