Choosing an Information Database
The untold truth is that there are only a few fully functional systems that can really deliver what they promise, and not just anyone can become certified to use them. Passing their rigorous requirements takes time, effort, and specific qualifications — time and effort that many are unwilling or unable to expend and qualifications most don't possess. Another not-so-widely-known fact is that not only do these inferior systems lack up-to-date information, the scope of their information may not be sufficient to do proper due diligence on perspective employees.
What is due diligence?
It means that an employer does everything reasonably possible to verify an applicant's true history and identity. The courts have ruled that this is essential to providing workplace safety for employees and security for clients or customers. Read more about this and negligence at:
Due Diligence
Due diligence has been defined, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), as having the following elements:
Background/pre-employment checks
Verification of references, work history, and degrees
Periodic criminal history rechecks
Drug testing in some positions
Adequate employee training, observation, and management — including resolving complaints by employees against other employees in a timely and reasonable manner
One of the most important reasons that some brokers can't provide information which fulfills the due diligence requirement is that, in many states, information is not entirely accessible online because it hasn't been entered into an online database. While a system may provide certain information to its customers, there's much more that's just not available to the system, which therefore, cannot be provided to the consumer.
Because of this, the few reliable systems hire private investigators around the country to gather any information that is not yet automated. The more reliable PIs employ the best of these systems — not just one, but two or more — in an effort to ensure accuracy and completeness of reports. Keep in mind that these types of reports are returned only to licensed PIs.
Most importantly, the reason experienced investigators return the most accurate information reports is that they have the ability to decipher these reports. They can spot trouble areas and inconsistencies that can otherwise be easily missed, as well as information that's conspicuously absent, deceptive, or altered. An operator sitting in a cubicle for the purpose of running an online check cannot do this for you.
The National Crime Information Center
Be aware that no database or information system is infallible. Even the federal law enforcement database, the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), is subject to errors. One problem is that of agency reporting. Agencies from all fifty states report to NCIC — but do they report crime accurately? Certainly many do, but mistakes can be made. Do they report using the same or similar system? The answer is no. Furthermore, do all of them report? That answer is also no — some smaller departments don't report their crime statistics at all, and others don't report consistently. NCIC is also subject, as is every database, to human entry errors.
Private investigators aren't allowed direct access to NCIC, and acquiring this information from police officers or other law enforcement employees has long been illegal. Because of abuse in recent years (individuals paying law enforcement to run NCIC on citizens), those committing this crime have been searched out and even prosecuted.
This doesn't mean that NCIC isn't reliable; it's a great system that's been a boon to law enforcement since its inception. It isn't infallible, but it has been instrumental in putting many criminals in prison. Most importantly, the system undergoes continual improvements and additions. Its highest mandate is to ensure that, as far as is possible, NCIC information is accurate. At any rate, without it, information sharing between police departments would return to the dark ages. For more information, see these sites:
NCIC — Criminal Justice Information System's overview of NCIC, how it works and its benefits,
FBI,
Partners NCIC FAQs,
Database Services
The best database services receive most of their information from state and federal records, not from middlemen. Receiving information from databases whose information has come from other databases increases the possibility of human input error. The better services also update records every few days; some do it daily. Information from middlemen services can't promise the same.
Purchasing an errors and omissions insurance policy is important to those who provide background and pre-employment searches. Though rare, even when using a capable information database, errors over which you have no control can occur. Don't risk losing everything because of failure to buy this insurance.
In light of these things, it's easier to understand how systems that are hooked into fewer national law enforcement databases and connected more distantly than the NCIC are also fallible. This means that even the best service provider is subject to errors now and then. When running reports for your clients, you should counsel them about this possibility in order to present a realistic picture of the information business. While it may be rare that the information returned from your service provider contains errors or omissions, your client should be prepared for this possibility. Otherwise, if it happens, he can feel that you've been negligent — or worse, that you've been intentionally deceitful.
Tracers Information Specialists
Founded in 1996, Tracers' user-friendly system (
Law enforcement
Insurance investigations
Risk management
Legal research
Vendor certification
Due diligence
Loss prevention
Asset identification
Fraud protection
Skip tracing
Identity verification
Tracers has access to, and provides integration of, billions of records on individuals and businesses, including criminal history, civil court records, sex offender registries, state drivers license bureaus, people searches, and more. Upon being approved to access Tracers' databases, you're assigned a representative to train you and ensure that you get the most out of the system. Visit
IRBsearch
IRBsearch (
Alternatives
Don't despair if you're unable to obtain approval with one of these information service providers; others can be utilized. Just be sure to consult a PI organization, or perhaps a PI magazine, before you use a service. Consider also that if you don't want to expend the time and money involved in gaining approval for membership with information service providers, nor do you want to learn operational details of the program and various methods of running searches, you can hire them out to another investigator or agency that specializes in backgrounds.
This is actually a good idea for many PIs because searches may not be needed regularly enough to justify membership with an information service provider. You also need to consider the time it takes to run searches, evaluate them, type reports (you may need to hire someone to do this if you're investigating cases), and get them to clients. It may be more time and cost effective to have an agency do this for you.
If membership in an information service provider isn't cost or time effective for your business, contact SaferSecurity, Inc. (
Check services and prices to find the one that best appeals to your needs and budget. Although there are many other services, the two discussed in this chapter are the most commonly used suppliers of quality information and are used by many PIs.
The Internet and Background Checks
Employers and investigators alike have added a strategy to the traditional background check. They are searching Google and Yahoo, as well as social networking sites such as MySpace, YouTube, and Facebook. In a recent Society for Human Resource Management survey, 15 percent of human resource professionals admitted that they routinely check social networking sites, and one in five of these professionals reported disqualifying candidates because of what was viewed on a Web site.
What many searchers find on these sites is, in many cases, disturbing and revealing. Very often, the clean-cut professional appears on his site as someone else entirely. Revealing pictures and the discussion of controversial subjects can damage job applicants. When something is posted on the Internet, the poster loses all control of it. Even years down the road, she won't know who has possession of it. For the PI performing a background search, checking these sites can throw light on a different aspect of the applicant.
