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What is the value of hiring a PI for background checks and investigations?

12/9/2011

2 Comments

 
Over the years it has been increasingly easy for the private citizen to check the backgrounds of other individuals at little to no cost.  In many states various public records have been made more available directly, or by data services reselling data.  At the same time there have been more restrictions on records that can be accessed, often requiring a PI license, or redacted considerably or completed banned from access.  One record that is easy and free, in most jurisdictions and via online sources are the sex offender registrations - from local to national.  But, each of these resources does no good if not used, used improperly or not verified.Introducing Ken Kinder, a sex offender featured in the media recently - you might want to brush up on this story before continuing < Denver-area Sex Offender Working as Janitor Accused of Taking Photos From Day Care >.

Colorado law, as with many states, requires daycare centers to conduct background checks on their employees, but no contractors.  Kinder worked for a cleaning company that was contracted to clean facilities at night, no concerns...right?  The cleaning company has stated they conduct background checks, no concerns...right?  Well, as the story headline notes, his working at the daycare center was a problem and as reported in the story, so was the background check that the company self-conducted.

First, the cleaning company is part of a franchise and leaves the responsibility of day to day operations, including hiring and background checks, to the franchisee.  It is not necessary for franchisees to be micromanaged; but, they should be advised and trained on such important issues as background checks.  More realistic, they should not be doing their own background checks - these should be left to professional investigators.

Here's why:  the cleaning company owner (franchisee) "...said a background check performed on the Internet showed no criminal history for Kinder. Kinder worked for the company for three months.  "I didn't know he was a sex offender, though...our background checks don't go that extensive."

Do you see something wrong with this?  First, sex offender registrations should be checked on all potential employees, and even regular interval background checks on current employees, just like drug testing.  Second, sex offender registrations are one of the easiest public records to check and they are usually free, including online.  From local to national - simply checking with your local jurisdiction.  But, as a professional investigator knows, that is not enough - although it would have been in this story.  Sex offenders are required to register to where they move, at least in Colorado.  But, being required to does not mean they do.  Law enforcement agencies spend a great deal of resources verifying addresses and the compliance rate can be alarming in some jurisdictions.  A professional investigator will know to, and how to, check and verify address history and all relevant records in that history.  In some jurisdictions urinating in public, because a person was considered to have exposed themselves, is a sex offense, so it is important to know how to determine the nature of the sex offense and registration.  In some jurisdictions this registration is for life, in others it is not.

The franchisee really dropped the ball on this one.  Our agency is often called to conduct background checks and investigations (there is a difference), often by potential nursing students and similar.  It is not very expensive, but it seems that when they are told they need a background check done, or when a potential employer calls us, they expect $50-$75.  That is not going to cover a professional investigator's time, let alone expenses.  For routine backgrounds and minimal address history - and for females one or two name changes (marriage, divorce), expect $200-$400 depending on the records and jurisdiction.  You should get a complete and comprehensive report (yes, there is a difference) with all documents and records included.  Up front you should be advised of what is, can and will be checked; and conversely what is not, cannot and will not be checked.

For a complete article on the value and methodology of background checks and investigations, read this article by Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI published in the journal of the World Association of Detectives.  Dean has conducted comprehensive background investigations for over 24 years, and has written book chapters, published articles and lectured on the topic.
< WAD - Concepts of Comprehensive Background Investigations >
Dean was recently appointed as a WAD Ambassador - North America (west) and can be contacted for any questions about WAD.

2 Comments

New service - Equivocal Death Analysis - Flat Fee

12/6/2011

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At Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC (AFI-LLC), we have found that families, as well as our colleagues and attorney clients, are often unsure if a complete investigation is necessary, or how to determine the necessity of a full Equivocal Death Investigation.  Often, just the assurance that a proper investigation was completed is all that is necessary, and warranted.

This review is NOT investigative, nor will AFI-LLC be able to answer the questions of Cause of Death and Manner of Death.  This is a review of the official investigation to determine if accepted and standard medicolegal death investigation procedures and protocols were followed.

At the conclusion of this review we will provide a letter of our expert opinion to answer this question.  If we find that there were errors or omissions, we may recommend additional steps, including an in-depth Equivocal Death Investigation (EDI).  Due to the nature of EDIs, these cannot be provided at a flat fee.

Please visit the information page and < Click Here for details >
_
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Our consulting Forensic Pathologist, Stephen Cina MD, was interviewed for this article.

12/4/2011

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_Dr. Cina underscores the importance of a proper medicolegal death investigation, as well as forensic autopsy and procedures.

This reminds me of a case in Pueblo, CO (January 2007) used in my book, "Practical Methods for Legal Investigations", in which a person exited the interstate and then shot herself in the head with a small caliber pistol, which was ejected from her rolled vehicle. This appeared to be an accident, but was easily determined at autopsy to be a suicide.

< Click Here > for the full story

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Referral Program from AFI-LLC to Investigators - launched!

12/4/2011

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We are proud to announce AFI-LLC has launched a special referral program just for our colleagues.  The concept is simple - our agency provides services that are complimentary to yours; and often, your clients will contact you first about services that we offer and you can benefit from.  From that is born our referral program.

< Click Here for details >

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Police: City Hall victim was shot to death - Earlier determination reversed

12/3/2011

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Our consulting Forensic Pathologist, Stephen Cina MD, was interviewed for this article.

WORCESTER —  Reversing an earlier determination, police say the man who died in a melee at City Hall Wednesday suffered a fatal gunshot wound. In the hours after the man's death, police said the man appeared to have suffered from a pre-existing medical condition.

Javier A. Santiago “died as the result of a single gunshot wound to the upper torso,” police said in a brief statement yesterday afternoon.

< Continue to the full story >

This reminds me of a case in Pueblo, CO (January 2007) used in my book, "Practical Methods for Legal Investigations", in which a person exited the interstate and then shot herself in the head with a small caliber pistol, which was ejected from her rolled vehicle.  This appeared to be an accident, but was easily determined at autopsy to be a suicide.
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Newsletter for December 2011

12/2/2011

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_< Click Here > for the AFI-LLC newsletter for December is now online. News and information about our profession.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and will soon be enjoying Christmas and Hanukkah.  With 2012 just around the corner, we want to extend our sincerest appreciation to our family, friends, colleagues and clients for a wonderful 2011!

Starting this month, our agency has launched a special referral program for our fellow investigators.  < Click Here > for more details.  Also this month, is Black Friday Month (because this special started on Black Friday, through Christmas) and Dean's 'Professional Locate Investigations' eBook is available for $10 and automatic download (eBook is regularly $15 and hardcopy is $25).  The download includes expanded and additional articles in preparation for a full 2012 revision (current purchasers will get a discount on the eBook only revision).

This is the time of year we see many charity drives - from food banks to toy collections.  Please take the time to drop a dollar here and there, pick up a children's toy and donate to the many causes.  For us, Childrens Hospitals and Ronald McDonald's House networks were life changing, and saving, to our family and extended family.  They hold a special place throughout the year in our charitable giving.

Remember to let us know about your interest in death investigation seminars.  We are planning for 2012 and are accepting sponsors.  Be sure and check out "Medicolegal Death Investigations for Private Investigators", a continuing education course at  www.PIEducation.com developed by us and based upon our education, training and experience.  < Click Here > for PI Education Course Details

AGENCY NEWS AND UPDATES
-- Now member of Florida Association of Licensed Investigators (FALI) -- Dean appointed as World Association of Detectives (WAD) North America Ambassador (west) 
-- Special for the holidays - 'Professional Locate Investigations' eBook 
-- Comments on the Wyoming Coroner Association Conference

In the News
-- DNA Evidence Can Be Fabricated
-- Discovery Reforms Are Needed

Association News
-- Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado (PPIAC)
-- National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI)
-- National Council of Investigation and Security Services (NCISS)
-- World Association of Detectives (WAD)
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Fort Collins police investigating 3 deaths this week as heroin overdoses

12/1/2011

1 Comment

 
_Written by Trevor Hughes, Staff Reporter
The Coloradoan, Fort Collins CO
December 01, 2011

The deaths of three young men in Fort Collins this week are being investigated as heroin overdoses, and experts say more overdoses could be coming.

A CSU student, 18, died of an apparent heroin overdose on Monday after being rushed from his campus dorm room. And on Wednesday, police announced the deaths of a man, 29, found at a home in the 2900 block of Tumbleweed Lane on Tuesday, and of a man, 24, found dead at a home in the 100 block of East Trilby Road. In those deaths, police said heroin is being investigated as a cause.

The Larimer County Coroner's office is investigating the deaths of all three men, and formal toxicology reports are pending.

Frontline emergency medical workers say they have seen an increase in the number of heroin overdoses in the past week. If called quickly enough, paramedics can administer a drug that blocks heroin overdoses.

Wyandt Holmes, a spokesman and paramedic for Poudre Valley Hospital EMS, said paramedics normally respond to reported heroin overdoses a few times a month, but then often see a sharp increase when a new strain of the drug enters circulation.

"There has definitely been a spate of calls recently," he said.

Police on Wednesday did not release details explaining why heroin is suspected in the two most recent deaths. The coroner's office said the Colorado State University student who died had needle tracks on his arms and black tar heroin in his pants pocket.

Dean Beers, a former coroner's investigator who is now a private investigator, said heroin overdose deaths are doubly devastating for families, because there is a stigma attached to having a family member die of an illegal drug.

Like Holmes, Beers said it's not uncommon to see several heroin overdoses happen within a short period because heroin isn't sold in controlled, monitored doses like pharmaceutical drugs. Holmes said sometimes an extra-strong batch of the drug will enter circulation, or a batch that's been cut with something particularly toxic.

"You don't know, when you're buying heroin, what it's been cut with," said Beers, a Certified Legal Investigator who runs the Fort Collins-based Associates in Forensic Investigations LLC.

Beers said heroin has long been present in Larimer County. Coroner's statistics show there were five heroin deaths last year, two in 2009, five in 2008, none in 2007, and five in 2006.

"There's more drug use than maybe people want to admit," Beers said.

Dr. Jeremy Dubin, a board-certified addiction medicine specialist with a practice in Loveland, said he's heard anecdotal reports of increased heroin use, and of stronger strains.

"Usually, people will be able to tolerate the lighter strains, but when there's a more potent strain that comes into the community, you start seeing overdoses," said Dubin of Healing Arts Family Medicine.   "You get kind of complacent because you've been able to tolerate it in the past."

Dubin pointed out that deaths from prescription opiates still far outweigh deaths from heroin in Larimer County. Last year, for instance, the coroner's office recorded 24 deaths caused primarily by prescription opiates.

"My heart goes out to these families," Dubin said


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