Private Investigators and Records Access Under Attack
In August and September members of the National Council of Investigation & Security Services (NCISS – www.nciss.org/join-nciss) were alerted to disturbing articles attacking private investigators and access to public records, for legal and ethical purposes in litigation – particularly state driving records. These are resurfaced from similar stories just before major state and national elections in 2016 and 2018.
 

Headline #1 - Arizona DMV Sells Drivers' Photos and SSNs to Private Investigators
Headline #2 - The Loophole the DMV Uses to Sell Your Data to Private Investigators
Headline #3 - California DMV Is Selling Drivers' Data to Private Investigators
(previously Vermont in 2019, and in both 2016 and 2019 California with similar headlines and sources)
 
The NCISS Legislative Committee has responded to this false and intentionally misleading statements, and is monitoring legislative and regulatory activity with state associations and in Congress and federal regulatory agencies.
 
These and past articles variously describe investigators as acting in nefarious manners. This is overwhelming false. Yes, every profession has its low percentage of bad actors. private investigators provide critical and essential services in civil, criminal, probate, domestic relations, and administrative law proceedings. This through work product, testimony of work product and even as expert witnesses. This type of work ranges from insurance fraud, identity theft cases, frauds and abuses on private parties to include elder fraud, missing persons, sex trafficking cases, and criminal defense that even involve death penalty mitigations and exonerations of the wrongfully accused. The following examples are key areas private investigators provide research and critical information and analysis which benefits to their clients – from the general public to businesses and government agencies – most often directly in the judicial process:

• A crime, wrongful act, or threat against the United States or any State or Territory of the United States;
• The identity, reputation, character, habits, conduct, business occupation, honesty, integrity, credibility, knowledge, trustworthiness, efficiency, loyalty, activity, movements, whereabouts, affiliations, associations, or transactions of a person, group of persons, or organization;
• The credibility of witnesses or other persons;
• The whereabouts of missing persons;
• The determination of the owners of abandoned property;
• The causes and origin of, or responsibility for, libel, slander, a loss, an accident, damage, or an injury to a person or to real or personal property;
• The business of securing evidence to be used before an investigatory committee, board of award or arbitration, administrative body, or officer or in the preparation for or in a civil or criminal trial;
• The business of locating persons who have become delinquent in their lawful debts, when the private investigator locating the debtor is hired by an individual or collection agency;
• The location or recovery of lost or stolen property;
• The affiliation, connection, or relationship of any person, firm, or corporation with any organization, society, or association or with any official, representative, or member of an organization, society, or association;
• The conduct, honesty, efficiency, loyalty, or activities of employees, persons seeking employment, agents, contractors, or subcontractors; or
• The identity of persons suspected of crimes or misdemeanors.

 
Without the the private investigator, the judicial system would – the rights of plaintiffs and defendants – would stop.
The private investigator’s access and use of all information is screened by two required factors: 1) the requestor must be an authorized entity (i.e. private investigator, law enforcement, collection agency; and 2) a legitimate and approved purpose (i.e. litigation, employment background, judgment collection). These protected records are not readily available and all users and uses are vetted, audited and tracked.
 
Together with our clients, colleagues, state and national associations – including the Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado (PPIAC – www.ppiac.org) and the National Council of Investigation & Security Services (NCISS – www.nciss.org/join-nciss), we will work together to assure professional private investigators meet the high standards expected and are able to provide the level of work-product clients expect and need.

Why Was HB20-1207 - Continuing the Private Investigator Licensure Act - Vetoed?
Please visit www.DeathCaseReview.com/hb20-1207 for these important and complete details. We have also included a link to a training video, intended for Colorado licensure, which details the losses to the public. We recommend all Colorado Professional Investigators - new and veteran - follow the guidance in this video for the standards of practice and ethics.

First, we Thank YOU - our clients and colleagues - for the overwhelming support from when we started working with DORA (so we thought) in the sunset review process about this time last year, and right up until it was vetoed. Many sent letters to DORA, the legislature, and the governor's office. We appreciate the time you took to support our profession and consumer protections in Colorado!

Most important, we want to assure our clients this will have no change or impact to our client-investigator relationships, how we conduct business and investigations, or our agency standards of practices and ethics. Prior to licensing in Colorado (2012 and mandatory from 2015 to present), we developed standards of practices and ethics and shared these with Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Agencies for the licensing program (together with extensive input from the Legislative Committee of the Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado – PPIAC). We further adapted additional requirements from DORAs Rules and Regulations. These will continue to be in place for our clients and consumers. As part of our standards of practices and ethics, these include:

• Contracts
• Conflicts of interest
• Confidentiality
• Recordkeeping
• Truthful representation
• Business standards and compliance with laws
• Ethics

Unfortunately, any grounds for license denial, review, or discipline for bad acts disappears after 08/31/2020. What were some of these? If any Colorado Private Investigator (licensed or not):

• Violated or attempted to violate any licensing provision or rule;
• Committed fraud, deceit, or misrepresented securing a license;
• Committed any felony or aggravated misdemeanor offense, was convicted or a guilty plea or nolo contendere;
• Was disciplined by another jurisdiction (includes other states denied licensure); or
• Any act or omission which violates generally accepted standards and ethics.
  

Believe the Totality of the Evidence
 
The process of investigation is vital to the rights of the individuals - both defendants and victims; in civil and criminal cases - and our justice system. In the investigations of death, it can have additional impacts – from civil and criminal, to insurance benefits and closure to families.
 
The evidence is not wrong. The interpretation, application of circumstances, and looking at evidence only individually instead of the totality of the evidence and circumstances can be wrong.
 
If the findings are wrong...
- someone may be wrongfully convicted; or
- someone may get away with a crime; or
- family may lose benefits; or
- family may be misinformed, lingering questions, and no closure.
 
It is not a matter of erring on the side of caution, it is a matter of the evidence and the story it tells and supports.
 
At times, answering the question of what scenario happened is unanswered. However, answering the question of what did or did not happen - was it homicide, suicide... or accident - is answered. In doing so, the answer of criminal charges, insurance benefits, or other outcome is.
 
“Not engage in incompetent practice or outside acceptable practices and standards of the industry.” - Private Investigator Licensing, Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) Standards of Practice.
 
We receive multiple inquiries on questioned deaths – from PIs, attorneys, and families. We welcome these, it is our passion to help families. Unfortunately with most, the PI has done a 'full work-up' of the case and an attorney is ready to file a wrongful death action based on the family's belief of homicide and then wants us to prove it. That's putting the cart before the horse.
 
First it needs to be determined what did and did not happen - was it suicide, accident, or homicide - we have found all of these in our questioned deaths. Most often there is some information and evidence – when looked at individually – which supports the questions and concerns of the family. If this is looked at with the untrained and inexperienced eyes, it may be an incorrect conclusion. We have found the same with law enforcement and coroner investigations – less frequently in comparison to families and inexperienced PIs. Once a family’s questions are said to be factual there is no changing course to them. We have been there and it is very damaging to them. For example, telling a family or client – at any time – “this is clearly a murder and we will prove it for you” does happen too often and should never be done. Instead, we tell the family, “We understand the concerns you have, but cannot offer anything further until we look at all of the records, reports, and photographs available to us. Even then, if they are incomplete our findings may also be. We will do the best we can to answer your questions honestly based on the facts and evidence. Please understand there are four possible findings, and we cannot know until your review concluded:
1) The official investigation was competent, with the official findings consistent with the facts and evidence; or
2) The official investigation was not competent, with the official findings consistent with the facts and evidence; or
3) The official investigation was competent, with the official findings not consistent with the facts and evidence; or
4) The official investigation was not competent, with the official findings not consistent with the facts and evidence.”
 
When retained by a PI or attorney, we tell them the same. These are in the order most often seen. The client comes to us – and you – because they are looking at #4. This is most often not our findings.
 
Why does this happen? Most often the family and PI are focused on the circumstantial drama – family relationships, personalities, unusual behavior, anger and grief. For example, we often hear of abuse and neglect or even affairs and acting strange. These may be valid concerns. Imagine if a person were arrested, charged, tried and convicted based on these circumstances? It has happened – a bit simplified, but it has and does. The damage and harm is to more than the defendant. Our only purposes is to review and analyze the facts and evidence independently and with no bias or desired outcome.
 
Then we can make recommendations to the family, PI and attorney as to the next stage of the investigation - the boots on the ground field work. It can be a big hardship on the family to have them convinced of homicide and the evidence doesn't support it - and they will live with the unanswered grief the rest of their lives. This hardship is financial and emotional. We have had families, attorneys, and PIs come to us with how much they have spent and are now ready for our expertise. This is often $2,000 to $10,000 (more than our base fee to families), only for us to tell them their findings or legal strategy are without fact and evidentiary basis. This has happened to such a degree, we now have law enforcement and prosecutor offices coming to us to independently review their cases as expert consults and to tell them which of the four possibilities their cases fall.
 
We strive to do the best we can for our clients, colleagues and profession. We are passionate about helping families. Our first recommendation for any investigation is to follow a simple process – from intake to investigation to conclusion:
- Prepare
- Inquire
- Analyze
- Document
- Report
(see the PI Magazine article – ‘A Look Into the Practical Methods for Legal Investigations’ at www.DeathCaseReview.com/uploads/8/7/3/8/8738199/beers_-_pmli_pi_mag_082014.pdf
 
Doing so provides for the Passionate Search for the Facts, and as legal investigators, this is our only true purpose. This includes extenuating, aggravating, mitigating, objective, and subjective information. Anything that supports or refutes any or all of the components of the death, or serious bodily injury, investigation is evidence. Legal  investigators  have  professional obligations to themselves and all clients to be: 1) Informed, become informed, and to inform; 2) Unbiased and open minded; 3) Conscientious of their fiduciary responsibility; 4) Honest and ethical; and 5) Unrelenting in their search for the facts.

Since mid-March we have all experienced an unprecedented event in our nation’s – our world’s – history: home isolation and closed businesses. The personal affects of emotional, physical, and mental health will begin to manifest themselves, and have been both trying and overwhelming for all. The impacts to our communities have been significant. The impact to our economies – personal, business, local, state and national – devastating.
 
In April and May we provided important resources to adapt, and survive, this event. We revisit and summarize those at the end of this commentary.
 
Like a Phoenix, we can all recover personally and, in our communities, states and nation. A forest fire results in new and stronger growth. In America, it is who we are and it is how our Nation was born. So, what have be begun to learn from this experience?
  - Freedom is important – the freedom to work and play is part of us.
  - Family is important – many of us have spent more time with our families than ever before.
  - We adapt and overcome.
 
These are just a few simple things which come to mind. As a home-based agency, our break is to get out – whether with family, a business trip, errands, or a relaxing night out. As a technology-based business, and with frequent travel, our business adaptations were already in place. All of our business trips were canceled to date, and the rest of the year is unknown. We didn’t give up our family time, and increased it both out of necessity – grandkids were home with no school and when their parents worked or returned; and we increased our parent checks to more frequent phone calls and personal visits. As clients and colleagues, including associations we are active with, transitioned to remote meetings, we found ourselves even more involved. We adapted to overcome any obstacles and forge new opportunities. We did so with family and friends, and also clients and colleagues.
 
Every adaption in business soon adapted to personal use. As kids learned to attend school remotely, and businesses have meetings remotely, so to did families adapt to use virtual meeting applications for personal time. What are some of the ways we adapted, and expanded our abilities?
 
As much as we have adapted, nothing replaces personal connections. These personal connections are with family and friends, and also clients and colleagues. We will continue to forge and grow these personal relationships.
 
During this time we must recognize our state, national, and international associations – most with overlapping membership and leadership – who came together to share and create resources for members and our profession. From tips on transitioning to remote business practices, to financial resources, and extended webinars and training opportunities. We saw the daily work each association did behind the scenes – all volunteer – to keep us all in business. I strongly encourage you to visit www.privateinvestigations.org/associations to learn more about being involved, as each association has found a new mission and value in members; and members have found new value in their associations.
 
We extend our most heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all of our family, friends, clients, and colleagues for checking on each other, working together. Our clients stayed in touch, sometimes just to check-in, and other times for assignments. We all adapted as we continued to provide the services needed and expected.
 
Finally, a special thanks to our families. It is through them we have all found renewed strength in being closer together. This includes right here, for us.
 
Be Safe. Be Healthy. Together We’re Better!
 
Standard Business Continuity and Practices
For over 30 years we have been committed to assuring your firm has the expertise and resources need to best represent your clients. Since 1996 our agency has developed redundant continuity as standard business practice to be more available and responsive to our clients. This has included data resources, communications, power and supplies, and remote capabilities. Our clients and colleagues have had no disruption or delays in the services we provide.
 
Distance Working and Learning Resources
Learn how we efficiently multi-task and maintain our daily activities for clients using these tools. Visit this article on our blog at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/time-is-money-multi-tasking-is-time-recovered!
- DropBox - http://DropBox.PrivateInvestigations.org
  or OneDrive - http://OneDrive.PrivateInvestigations.org
- Right Inbox for Gmail - www.RightInBox.com
- Desktop Texting - www.MySMS.com
- Ring Central Faxing - http://Fax.PrivateInvestigations.org
- Ring Central VOIP - http://RingCentral.PrivateInvestigations.org
- Toll-Free Numbers - http://Kall8.PrivateInvestigations.org (PIs - contact our office for more uses)
- ​Split View - www.SplitView.com
 
During the last several weeks we have shared a list of distance learning available (also at www.InvestigativeCourses.com). These continue to be available, and beginning this month we will begin offering on-demand training modules. These will cover topics from our over 30 years of experience, adapted from speaking engagements, books, and articles we have published over the years. These will be for attorneys, investigators, and consultants in basic, intermediate and advanced levels. These will be priced based on length, skill level, and subject matter, and as low as $25. Look for a special announcement soon!
 
We also shared several exceptional distance learning resources, some free:

• PI Education www.PIeducation.com

A large selection of courses, approved in multiple states, at reasonable cost and convenience.
All courses - Coupon Code: FriendsofDean for 10% off (expires 06-30-2020)

• Investigator Ethics for the PI, Consumer and Client www.udemy.com/investigator-attorney-ethics-for-the-consumer

Offered by Udemy and presented by AFI-LLC informs the student of ethics which must be followed.

• Basics of Skip Tracing, Backgrounds & Assets Investigations www.udemy.com/skip-tracing-backgrounds-assets-investigations-101

Offered by Udemy and presented by AFI-LLC introduces fundamentals of individual locates, background, and asset & liabilities investigations.

• Basic Forensic Scene Photography www.udemy.com/basic-forensic-scene-photography

Offered by Udemy and presented by AFI-LLC covers the equipment and selection, processes and protocols, and legal considerations of investigative photography.

• Equivocal Death Investigations https://pieducation.com/product/equivocal-death-investigations

Offered by PI Education and presented by AFI-LLC provides a basic introduction into the concepts of the official investigation of death, and adapted to serious bodily injuries.

• Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council www.defenseinvestigator.com/distancelearning.html

Offering discounted distance learning during this time, and newly developed a virtual training programs.

• The PI Institute www.PIinstitute.com

A large selection of courses, approved in multiple states, at reasonable cost and convenience.

• The Hetherington Group (HG) www.hetheringtongroup.com/training/webinars

Updated their OSINT webinar content into packages.

• S2 Distance Learning Portal http://afi.s2institute.com

Offered by Associates in Forensic Investigations in partnership with the S2 Safety & Intelligence Institute. These courses are specifically developed for distance learning for the professional investigator.

• NW3C www.nw3c.org/webinars#OnDemand

Primarily for law enforcement and regulatory agencies, these training modules are useful in private investigations.

• National Institute of Justice On-demand https://nij.ojp.gov/events/on-demand

Includes online, self-paced training, and recordings of past events.

• National Association for Public Defense www.publicdefenders.us/calendar_list.asp

Weekly training and information webinars primarily for attorneys and investigators working criminal defense cases.
 
Read April’s commentary at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/overcoming-covid-19-and-business-continuation
 
Returning to Office and Field Services: Tips for Safer Interactions
Be sure and check with your state and local requirements, and consult legal advice as may be necessary. The following is not legal advice.
 
We suggest having a HIPAA and state health department compliant form for all personal interactions with clients and the public (witnesses, etc.). In addition to compliance, there are two additional considerations: 1) liability insurance may require compliance and additional guidelines; and 2) if there is any exposure this will assist with state and CDC contact tracing programs. Any compliance forms should be signed and dated by all parties. These forms should be copied to the case file, and a compliance folder for the agency.
 
Read last month’s commentary at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/returning-to-office-and-field-services-tips-for-safer-interactions

Standard Business Continuity and Practices
For over 30 years we have been committed to assuring your firm has the expertise and resources need to best represent your clients. Since 1996 our agency has developed redundant continuity as standard business practice to be more available and responsive to our clients. This has included data resources, communications, power and supplies, and remote capabilities. Our clients and colleagues have had no disruption or delays in the services we provide.
 
Distance Working and Learning Resources
Learn how we efficiently multi-task and maintain our daily activities for clients using these tools. Visit this article on our blog at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/time-is-money-multi-tasking-is-time-recovered!
- DropBox - http://DropBox.PrivateInvestigations.org
  or OneDrive - http://OneDrive.PrivateInvestigations.org
- Right Inbox for Gmail - www.RightInBox.com
- Desktop Texting - www.MySMS.com
- Ring Central Faxing - http://Fax.PrivateInvestigations.org
- Ring Central VOIP - http://RingCentral.PrivateInvestigations.org
- Toll-Free Numbers - http://Kall8.PrivateInvestigations.org (PIs - contact our office for more uses)
- ​Split View - www.SplitView.com
 
During the last several weeks we have shared a list of distance learning available (also at www.InvestigativeCourses.com). These continue to be available, and beginning this month we will begin offering on-demand training modules. These will cover topics from our over 30 years of experience, adapted from speaking engagements, books, and articles we have published over the years. These will be for attorneys, investigators, and consultants in basic, intermediate and advanced levels. These will be priced based on length, skill level, and subject matter, and as low as $25. Look for a special announcement soon!
 
We also shared several exceptional distance learning resources, some free:

• PI Education www.PIeducation.com

A large selection of courses, approved in multiple states, at reasonable cost and convenience.
All courses - Coupon Code: FriendsofDean for 10% off (expires 06-30-2020)

• Investigator Ethics for the PI, Consumer and Client www.udemy.com/investigator-attorney-ethics-for-the-consumer

Offered by Udemy and presented by AFI-LLC informs the student of ethics which must be followed.

• Basics of Skip Tracing, Backgrounds & Assets Investigations www.udemy.com/skip-tracing-backgrounds-assets-investigations-101

Offered by Udemy and presented by AFI-LLC introduces fundamentals of individual locates, background, and asset & liabilities investigations.

• Basic Forensic Scene Photography www.udemy.com/basic-forensic-scene-photography

Offered by Udemy and presented by AFI-LLC covers the equipment and selection, processes and protocols, and legal considerations of investigative photography.

• Equivocal Death Investigations https://pieducation.com/product/equivocal-death-investigations

Offered by PI Education and presented by AFI-LLC provides a basic introduction into the concepts of the official investigation of death, and adapted to serious bodily injuries.

• Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council www.defenseinvestigator.com/distancelearning.html

Offering discounted distance learning during this time, and newly developed a virtual training programs.

• The PI Institute www.PIinstitute.com

A large selection of courses, approved in multiple states, at reasonable cost and convenience.

• The Hetherington Group (HG) www.hetheringtongroup.com/training/webinars

Updated their OSINT webinar content into packages.

• S2 Distance Learning Portal http://afi.s2institute.com

Offered by Associates in Forensic Investigations in partnership with the S2 Safety & Intelligence Institute. These courses are specifically developed for distance learning for the professional investigator.

• NW3C www.nw3c.org/webinars#OnDemand

Primarily for law enforcement and regulatory agencies, these training modules are useful in private investigations.

• National Institute of Justice On-demand https://nij.ojp.gov/events/on-demand

Includes online, self-paced training, and recordings of past events.

• National Association for Public Defense www.publicdefenders.us/calendar_list.asp

Weekly training and information webinars primarily for attorneys and investigators working criminal defense cases.
 
Read April’s commentary at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/overcoming-covid-19-and-business-continuation
 
Returning to Office and Field Services: Tips for Safer Interactions
Be sure and check with your state and local requirements, and consult legal advice as may be necessary. The following is not legal advice.
 
We suggest having a HIPAA and state health department compliant form for all personal interactions with clients and the public (witnesses, etc.). In addition to compliance, there are two additional considerations: 1) liability insurance may require compliance and additional guidelines; and 2) if there is any exposure this will assist with state and CDC contact tracing programs. Any compliance forms should be signed and dated by all parties. These forms should be copied to the case file, and a compliance folder for the agency.
 
Read last month’s commentary at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/returning-to-office-and-field-services-tips-for-safer-interactions

Being active on our state association legislative committee, PPIAC, there have been many discussions about this crisis and impact on members. This comes from also navigating a bill to renew Colorado’s PI licensing program for another five years. Professional investigators have always worked from home, in office spaces, and in the field – our profession is complex and far reaching. We watch for regulations and legislation which may impact our profession – for better, or for worse. This new crisis is a totally different issue, however, dealing with it is the same.
 
In early March, after a state of emergency was declared, Colorado’s legislature adjourned about half-way into the session. With phases of Safe From Home in place, Colorado’s legislature is scheduled to reconvene 05/18/2020 and finish the legislative session. During this crisis the licensing agency, Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) classified Private Investigators as ‘non-critical’ or ‘non-essential’ and with the most restricted travel and business mandates.

The state health department (CDPHE) had some flexibility. Believing DORA did not have the authority to supersede CDPHE, the PPIAC Legislative Committee (of which Dean is a member) immediately went to work under the leadership of Robert Orozco (Chair) and sent a letter to DORA. As of 04/30/2020 DORA no longer included PIs under any classification of restricted business activities. At the same time, as Colorado transitioned to the Safer at Home phase, members of the committee were discussing steps to make sure members / PIs, clients, and the public we interacted with would have safe practices recommendations. We learned, through our re-classification efforts, CDPHE re-classified PIs with guidelines for Office and Field Services. This is an important win by PPIAC for all Colorado PIs. Our agency has drafted a policy for compliance with new CDPHE guidelines. We hope the following, from the CDPHE required of all Colorado PIs, may assist you. Be sure and check with your state and local requirements, and consult legal advice as may be necessary. The following is not legal advice.
 
We suggest having a HIPAA and state health department compliant form for all personal interactions with clients and the public (witnesses, etc.). In addition to compliance, there are two additional considerations: 1) liability insurance may require compliance and additional guidelines; and 2) if there is any exposure this will assist with state and CDC contact tracing programs. Any compliance forms should be signed and dated by all parties. These forms should be copied to the case file, and a compliance folder for the agency.
 
Effective 04/30/2020
https://covid19.colorado.gov/safer-at-home/safer-at-home-office-based-business
https://covid19.colorado.gov/safer-at-home/safer-at-home-field-services-and-real-estate
 
This policy is effective for all assignments and interactions involving personal contact. This is in compliance with current Colorado Department of Health & Environment (CDPHE), and Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies / Private Investigators (DORA). Local county and city orders may supersede these and will be applicable as noted.
 
For each in-office or field personal contact, the following should be documented by the investigator and other person(s).
- Are you, or have you recently been, symptomatic or in contact with known positive cases?
- Adhere to all general rules or guidance on social gathering limitations when working in the field, or person’s business or home.
- This in-person meeting was of no more than 10 people. (initials of person requesting in-person meeting)
- Maintained a 6-foot distance from between persons.
- Gloves and face coverings or masks were offered for any personal interactions.
- Any provided PPE was properly collected or disposed of.

This should be signed and dated, with location noted, by all persons.
 
 Reminder - Be sure and check with your state and local requirements, and consult legal advice as may be necessary. The following is not legal advice.

Overcoming COVID-19 and Business Continuation
First, we hope you and your families, friends, and co-workers are doing well in physical and mental health, as well as financially. This virus event is considered a 'pandemic outbreak' (new strain, and global). These terms sound alarming – and thus begins physical, mental, and emotional distress in many.
 
Distance Learning Resources from AFI-LLC
We links of distance learning available (also at www.InvestigativeCourses.com) - some were published in this issue of the NCISS Your Advocate at www.nciss.org/your-advocate-april-2020 (which also has some helpful information for members on COVID-19 resources. Some may not have time for webinars, and we have articles previously published available to PIs - email us associates@deathcasereview.com for the confidential link.
 
Special Information and Resources for the Corona Virus
We have also published all state of emergency resources we have found at www.PrivateInvestigations.org/corona-virus-resources.

• What is the COVID-19?
• Who is at risk?
• What are the precautions?
• As a small business owner, what can I do? 
• Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• What can I do for my family, friends, co-workers and neighbors?
• What resources are available for those at risk in mental health?

 
As family, friends, neighbors and business partners – we are concerned about you. If we can help in any way, please contact us and we will do our best to find the help and resources needed. Also, support your community and businesses. The potential future financial impact is unknown, and will be significant. It is important to now be part of your community.

Business Continuity and Networking – Yesterday, Today, and the Future!
Your agency and firm should be prepared for technical and environmental contingencies. The current state of emergency has left households and businesses uncertain. The following will help you adapt to a more streamlined business process, and adapted as part of your business continuity plan. Since 1987, our agency has grown and adapted to clients, judicial practices, legal investigation practices, business practices, and technology.
 
1987 – There were no cell phones or emails. Payphones and courtesy phones were everywhere. Fax machines were becoming common. How did we start business and stay in touch with clients? We used an answering machine which would page a beeper after a message, the message was retrieved, and clients called back within 15-30 minutes. pages me for return calls. Not much later, a numeric pager was added in which clients could enter their office number and then a code indicating their need and urgency.
 
1995 – Cell phones and email were becoming popular, and the used of beepers and pagers ended; however, emails were mostly personal and not business use. We added a fax machine and then used technology to enhance our communications capabilities on a single phone line – call waiting, selective call answering (assigned its own phone numbers and would ring the fax machine, cell phone, business calls, and home calls). A colleague in England shared how to tether a cell phone to a laptop for wireless access of databases and email. This was so unique, the law enforcement did not yet have Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) and the local police department asked how we communicated in this way. Being the first agency in Colorado to offer this, our clients were pleased to have near instantaneous communications and answers.
 
In 1996 – just one year later, the first ability to add web-based fax sending and receiving was added (not via email). We were able to add this to our process serving – receiving pleadings with immediate urge needs to serve (with a mobile printer). We were able to forward our fax number to the web-based fax service and use the fax line as our data line for the online databases.
 
Jump to 2012 when we sold our home and traveled 27 states in our RV – and always making sure our clients were taken care of, and even improved. How did we do this? Learn more on these two blog articles, written during our travels.

• www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/the-mobile-pi-tips-and-tricks-part-1
• www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/the-mobile-pi-tips-and-tricks-2 
• www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/the-mobile-pi-tips-and-tricks-part-3

 
This brings us to 2015 and today, as we were fully adapted to a 95% paperless office and also 95% cloud based with redundant data and communications backup. When the state of emergency was declared in Colorado and nationwide, we literally started work without any change to meeting our clients’ needs, and those of the associations and members we work with (Karen is also the Executive Director of NCISS and Administrative Manager of WAD – we were prepared and ready as a matter of our standard business practices. How did we do this?
 
Learn how we efficiently multi-task and maintain our daily activities for clients using these tools. Visit this article on our blog at www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/time-is-money-multi-tasking-is-time-recovered!
- DropBox - http://DropBox.PrivateInvestigations.org
  or OneDrive - http://OneDrive.PrivateInvestigations.org
- Right Inbox for Gmail - www.RightInBox.com
- Desktop Texting - www.MySMS.com
- Ring Central Faxing - http://Fax.PrivateInvestigations.org
- Ring Central VOIP - http://RingCentral.PrivateInvestigations.org
- Toll-Free Numbers - http://Kall8.PrivateInvestigations.org (PIs - contact our office for more uses)
- ​Split View - www.SplitView.com

Part of daily activities and business continuity includes finding assistance outside of your area – location and specialties. Here are steps to take to find a vetted and reliable Professional Investigator:
1. Reach out to someone you professionally know and trust in the area or expertise.
2. Reach out to the state or specialty associations - join them.
3. Reach out to a national association - NCISS and NALI vet their membership to be in compliance with licensing and ethics - join them.
4. If international, reach out to WAD’s vetted membership - join them.
5. Vet your decisions, including through your associations network.
6. Don't throw your request for assistance out to unvetted groups in social media or generic listservs. Why trust your business and your client to the unknown?
 
Through our memberships we have a trusted network of thousands in almost every state and almost 100 countries. We have a very personal network of over 2000 PIs we personally know and trust.
 
Don't just join - be active! We are involved in every association we belong to - not just as members, but from committees to the board, and Karen is the Administrative Manager or Executive Director of two.

Here some of our memberships and recommendations, and members of these associations get preference for direct referrals - www.DeathCaseReview.com/Associations.
 
Special Distance Learning Opportunities
Due to the current state of emergency, all associations and training events have been canceled through June. The following are resources available for distance learning.

• PI Education offers courses for continuing education requirements. We have arranged with www.PIeducation.com for discounts on the death investigation course we developed, and a general discount for all of their courses. Please use these discount codes:

https://pieducation.com/product/equivocal-death-investigations
Coupon Code: DeathInvestigator for 20% off this course (expires 04-30-2020)
 
All other courses - Coupon Code: FriendsofDean for 10% off (expires 06-30-2020)

• The Hetherington Group (HG) has updated their OSINT webinar content into packages of core and advanced skill sets. These are now recorded sessions at your own pace and gain quality CEU's during quarantine. The packages offer 4 hours of continuous training. HG is offering a bonus 20-minute individual consultation for each participant.

www.hetheringtongroup.com/training/webinars

• Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council is offering discounted distance learning during this time. Primarily for criminal defense investigators, al investigative disciplines are welcome.

www.defenseinvestigator.com/distancelearning.html

• Investigator Ethics for the PI, Consumer and Client offered by Udemy and presented by AFI-LLC informs the student - from consumer to attorney, and interested to veteran private investigator - there are ethics which must be followed and apply to both investigator/consumer and investigator/attorney relationships. Ethics serve both professional and consumer protection. Only facts obtained ethically can be evidence - facts without ethics is not evidence.

www.udemy.com/investigator-attorney-ethics-for-the-consumer

• Basics of Skip Tracing, Backgrounds & Assets Investigations offered by Udemy and presented by AFI-LLC is designed for the person interested in becoming an investigator, and the new to intermediate experienced investigators. All general investigations use these basic concepts - making this an excellent beginner course. In the course will be taught how to the student will also be able to improve and increase their results of successfully closed cases. The goal is to introduce strong fundamentals to understand and apply the basic investigative concepts for skip tracing, background and asset & liabilities investigations.

www.udemy.com/skip-tracing-backgrounds-assets-investigations-101

• Basic Forensic Scene Photography offered by Udemy and presented by AFI-LLC is designed for the new and veteran private investigators, law enforcement, insurance adjusters and attorneys with an interest and need to document, or analyze, scenes and evidence using photography. This course covers the equipment and selection, processes and protocols, and legal considerations. This is important for any investigator conducting, or expert analyzing, photographs for litigation - forensic photography.

www.udemy.com/basic-forensic-scene-photography

• Equivocal Death Investigations offered by PI Education and presented by AFI-LLC. This training course is designed to provide a basic introduction into the concepts of the official investigation of death, such as by a coroner or medical examiner office, and the role the private investigator may play in an equivocal death investigation. As might be expected, there are similar roles, overlapping roles and, of course, different roles and responsibilities.

https://pieducation.com/product/equivocal-death-investigations

• S2 Distance Learning Portal is offered by Associates in Forensic Investigations in partnership with the S2 Safety & Intelligence Institute. These courses are specifically developed for distance learning.

http://afi.s2institute.com

• NW3C provides a nationwide support system for law enforcement and regulatory agencies tasked with the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of economic and high-tech crime.

www.nw3c.org/webinars#OnDemand

• National Institute of Justice On-demand events include online, self-paced training, and recordings of past events.

https://nij.ojp.gov/events/on-demand

• National Association for Public Defense provides weekly training and information webinars primarily for attorneys and investigators working criminal defense cases.

www.publicdefenders.us/calendar_list.asp

When we learn of new schedules, we will include them on our agency Facebook page and in future agency newsletters!

Restricting PI Access to Public Records
Growing nationally state by state is the drive of misinformed privacy advocates, legislators, regulators, and even governors to introduce restrictive - or outright bans - specific to private investigators in various records important to the work we do for our clients.
 


One such issue are driving records. Driven (no pun intended) by misinformation - and worse, assumption - several online media sources have published misleading stories of states making millions from the selling of personal data. We have expanded on this in this commentary. This is a rapidly growing trend - and it started with irresponsible and unprofessional behavior on social media platforms.

There are several online privacy and technology magazines which have been focusing on privacy, records, and private investigators. These concepts have somewhat merged to present a false alarm of the technology of records being easily obtained by private investigators and generating millions in revenue for states. This is not true. We will break this down. First, what started this damaging misinformation, and what has happened?

What started this misinformation?
In this case, and not solely - but from one of the articles - specifically stating they joined a closed PI group on social media. There they saw posts from private investigators asking how to obtain specific types of motor vehicle related records.
"Over 1,000 accounts have access to the [record provider] system, the contract adds. These accounts can be shared among multiple people at an organization, though. In a closed Facebook group for private investigators that [writer] gained access to, multiple posts include people asking for others to [obtain certain records] for them through their own access to [the record provider]." What was described - asking another PI to get information for them - is a violation of the record provider's Terms of Service. This activity of careless PIs is not the underlying problem - and is addressed by veteran PIs as soon as it is seen. The problem created was by the writer researching further, and assuming the information from the record provider came from a state department of motor vehicles. It does not - it comes from proprietary information used by law enforcement, repossession agents, and other legitimate uses for potential and current litigation. From this assumption, the writer made open records requests of over a dozen known states (from additional articles across various online publications). From these open records they found private investigators access these, and pay a fee. They then determined these state agencies make millions annually from these records fees.

What is wrong with these assumptions and misinformation?
As we pointed out - none of the information the articles posted about actually came from any state department of motor vehicles. However, PIs to legally make requests to these agencies for permissible purposes - which the articles do not point out to the readers (who are legislators and their constituents). Do these state agencies make millions of dollars? Certainly - and not from PIs or related (which is a very small percentage). The bigger customers are insurance companies, banks, collection agencies, and so on - PI's are way down the list. How and why can PIs - or these other companies - access these records? Its not as easy as making a request. There is a federal law - Driver's Protection Privacy Act - and every state has a similar law. The federal law requires a two-factor permissible test. For PIs this is usually: 1) licensed in the state in which they do business; and 2) for potential or actual litigation (there may be other reasons - fiduciary, probate, etc.). Every PI - every person or entity - making such a request has to meet the two-factor criteria.

These factors originate in other legislation - such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Consumer Privacy Act, Graham-Leach-Bliley Act, and a host of others - each having a state equivalent. What is released depends on the requestor (licensed PI) and their purpose (litigation) - and differs depending on each factor. Each state may be more restrictive than the federal legislation. For example, California does not provide address information (FYI - California was the first to pass a DPPA law, followed by Congress, and each state*). As little as 25 years ago it was as simple as making a request - any person (being in business 32 years, 25 years is not long ago). A PI in California did so for a client, who unknown to him stalked a celebrity and killed her at home. The California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI), and the National Council of Investigation & Security Services (NCISS) had members (some the same for both associations) testify before committees, and were able to draft the multi-factor permissible purposes language for the mutual benefit of clients and consumer protection.

What is damaging about these assumptions?
California was one of the first states to announced plans to introduce legislation further restricting their state DPPA, which is already the strictest in the country. This follows California recently passing privacy legislation which mirrors the new EU consumer privacy protection laws. One of the most recent stories to be printed - and continuing the false narrative of millions being made from PIs on these records - targeted Vermont. Within days the governor announced he would be taking executive action to ban the access of these records by PIs. The state association,Vermont Association of Investigative & Security Services (VAISS) immediately contacted the governor's office to correct the misinformation and share the important work for the public PIs do using various resources of what is public information. Within five days the governor acted as promised, and the state legislature is drafting legislation to further restrict their DPPA permitted purposes - which includes prohibiting PIs. VAISS has also reached out to NCISS for advocacy assistance, and the National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI) for support. Several states, and Congress, are doing the same - either through legislation or regulatory rule making.

What are the benefits to these records?
First, a reminder there are restrictions by law and regulation, federal and state / local, and whether direct (our primary resource) or via data provider. These restrictions require permissible purposes with multi-factor authentication, and are audited.

Next, let's look at what what restrictions various associations have put on their members, and is part of our agency ethics - adopted from a 2012 resolution from NCISS; and every state PI licensing law prohibits accepting any case in which there is a protection order and may lead to the identity and/or location of the protected person(s):
"As Professional Investigators and Expert Consultants we shall, prior to providing a client any personally identifying or location information of an individual, conduct appropriate due diligence to ensure that the person has a legitimate business or legal interest in obtaining that information. When such due diligence is not possible or appropriate, or if the person appears to not have a legal or business interest, the person shall be informed that their contact information shall be provided to the subject they are seeking and the personal identifying information of the subject they are seeking shall only be provided to the person if that party consents.)"

Here is a short list of the most common investigative use of records:

• Obtaining Criminal Histories
• Locating Ill Gotten Gains
• Finding Witnesses and Parties to Litigation
• Obtaining Delinquent Child Support
• Locating Missing Persons
• Assisting ID Theft Victims
• Locating Missing Heirs
• Finding "Deadbeat Parents"
• Preventing Fraud & Fighting Identity Theft
• Workplace Violence
• Sexual Harassment
• Locating Debtors
• Finding Pension Beneficiaries
• Protecting Consumers

At times our profession can be our worst enemy, not with any intention - simply from the best of intentions. Whether trying to help a client or a colleague, there is always the risk our intent and use will be exploited by others - as has been. Having been in the profession for over 30 years, we have seen the good and bad books, movies, television, and the media can do - also often without intention and often for entertainment. However, there are always unintended consequences for any manner of the most seemingly benign carelessness or exploitation - and both.

What can PIs and Clients do?
Be professional, and use only professionals and professional resources. There are no shortcuts to professionalism.

Also, be involved. Join and support your state and national associations to better ourselves and our profession. Not just for continuing education, also for state and federal legislative advocacy. Here is a link to more on associations, their resources, and their value - www.DeathCaseReview.com/associations.

As an Investigator, Security Agency, Process Server, or related professional… have you benefited from:

• Having access to driving records and motor vehicle information from your state DMV and private data providers?
• Having access to databases with permissible purposes under the GLBA?
• Having access to Social Security Numbers, Birthdates, Address History and other important information, including credit reports?
• Carry a firearm in the course of your professional duties?
• Having the ability to use a pretext for undercover operations, shopping services and other permissible purposes?
• Used the National Sex Offender Registry (Dru’s Law) for background investigations?
• Used GPS, drones and other modern technology in your investigations and security services?

If you answered YES to just one of these questions, you have directly benefited from the more than 40-year history of every state association and NCISS - member volunteers and every member - and these associations also support each other. NCISS and state association members have provided responsive testimony to Congress and federal regulators, as well as state legislatures with similar issues at the state level. This type of advocacy cannot happen without the membership, and cannot happen on the generic listserves or social media groups.