Private Investigator Basics: Background Investigations

Private investigators perform background investigations to verify a person's professional and personal history. A proper background investigation involves conducting interviews and searching for documents that will give you a greater understanding of the person you are looking into.

Can't I just pay for an online background check?

There are automated background checks available on the Internet, but the information is often incomplete or inaccurate, and each record, whether found through the Internet or another source, needs to be verified for validity. A qualified private investigator can provide detailed and accurate information about a person and ensure that the information is accurate.

There is no standard or routine background check. The investigation should be tailored to your areas of concern, reasons for finding out more, and your overall needs.

Whether you're hiring a new employee, looking for a nanny or babysitter, or are considering a prospective business partner, it's a good idea to get a better understanding of who and what you will be involved with. In some situations, not knowing someone's history can have legal, financial, and personal consequences.

A comprehensive background investigation report by an experienced, professional investigator can mean the difference between financial ruin or success. At Brian Blackwell Investigations, we can assist with substantiating facts before you assume legal responsibility and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Our thorough, confidential background investigations consider personal history, criminal and civil cases, professional licensing and history, employment, financial status and assets, associations, social media and online presence, business interests, and political contributions in our investigation.

BRIAN BLACKWELL
INVESTIGATIONS

2225 Sycamore Street
Harrisburg, PA 17111

Office: (717) 788-0708 or 888-920-3616
https://www.brianblackwell.biz

Copyright Brian Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.

Background Checks | Brian Blackwell Investigations

A new nanny or babysitter, a potential tenant, your child's coach, online dating, prospective business partner. In today's society, there are good reasons for wanting to verify the background of people engaged in your life.

In some situations, not knowing someone's history can have dire legal, financial, and personal consequences. Instant online background checks have become widely available and are fairly inexpensive; however, they are often very limited in the scope of information and not always up-to-date.

We can help. Visit us at brianblackwell.com

Forensic Statement Analysis

Businesses & Individuals Who Receive Anonymous Threating Letters

Forensic statement analysis is the process of examining a person's words to determine if he or she is truthful or deceptive.

Words reveal us. People always phrase their statements based on their knowledge and life experiences. Our words reveal our background, including our sex, race, and intelligence. Our words reveal our life experiences, including trauma and professional experiences. Our words reveal our basic personality type. The personality type can tell the investigator how to conduct the interview and how to assess the threat.

When a subject writes a statement, he or she provides more information than they realize. A person's statement will often contain information they did not intend to share. The key to detecting deception is to know what to look for in a person's statement.

Statement analysis is the most accurate way of detecting deception. When a person uses nonverbal communication, you have to read or interpret their body language. This means there is always the chance of misinterpreting. With our forensic statement analysis and advanced interviewing techniques, there is no interpreting or guesswork.

To ensure complete accuracy, the team at Brian Blackwell Investigations adheres to a well-established principle of having analysis work checked by other professionals. In the "truth" business, there is no room for ego.

Those who are the best and brightest investigators and analysts share a common humility that leads them to seek second and third opinions as a matter of routine. The "lone wolf" analyst would raise suspicion of accuracy and mistrust. The true professional analyst also submits to the discipline of principle and repetition.

As deception, corruption, and self-interest becomes more and more acceptable and popular, often stated as the "moral high ground," and institutionalized envy condemns success and authority more and more, the need for statement analysis is imperative. Courts have shown prejudice against companies, and the political elite have shown contempt for authority.

Statement analysis can be an effective investigative tool in criminal investigations and help solve sexual assault cases, theft cases, and uncover false allegations.

The team at Brian Blackwell can help in determining the author of an anonymous threatening letter. Brian Blackwell consults with analysts across the nation to identify the author of the anonymous threatening letter. All work is confidential.

For more about our Statement Analysis expertise, visit  brianblackwell.com

Social Media | Open Source Investigation

What Is A Social Media Investigation?

A social media investigation looks into the social media posts, status updates, photos, and conversations of an individual. You might require a social media investigation for a court case, custody battle, or as part of a background investigation. This can be used as evidence in court cases to support alibis and provide supplementary evidence, for risk assessment, and for active monitoring.

Why Do I Need A Social Media Investigation?

Social media investigations are commonly used during court cases to provide information relevant to a case, to supplement evidence, establish character, support or disqualify an alibi. Social media is being used more and more in custody cases, divorces, and even criminal trials. You also might need a social media investigation as part of a background check or risk assessment.

What Happens During A Social Media Investigation?

In a social media investigation, a private investigator will search for key terms and posts relevant to the goals of the investigation. In most cases, they will use high powered software to search, monitor activity, and set up alerts for new posts and account creations.

The private investigator will walk you through the process, make sure they understand your goals, and move forward in the best way for your case.

What Are You Searching For?

What you're searching for will depend on the investigation.

For the average court case, social media can be searched to establish foundation of character, verify or disqualify an alibi, and find supporting evidence. This includes looking at the location tags for Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram posts, verifying that the posts were original, and identifying what other individuals associated with the case are involved. For some investigations, like for crimes against minors, alerts and searches can be set up for specific search terms, and it can be discovered what type and age of individuals the person is interacting with.

For a domestic investigation, you might search for photos of your partner that support your suspicions of infidelity, or check the location data on posts on Twitter to verify he or she is where they say they are. Internet messaging, Facebook messages, and Twitter direct messages can also indicate whether or not the individual is staying faithful.

A custody case can involve looking at photos posted across platforms to identify who the individual is associating with. Twitter posts could indicate whether the individual is suited and trustworthy for retaining custody, and a Tumblr investigation can reveal the individual's priorities, thoughts, and intentions.

Any case involving possible drug use can mean searching for photographs and posts across platforms that would indicate potential drug use, as well as a search for Tumblr posts of images or comments, re-blogs, that support drug use. This type of investigation includes searching and setting up alerts for specific terms relating to drug use. In some cases, a sting can be set up to see if, through internet messaging services, the individual is dealing or affiliated with a dealer.

Why Should I Hire a Private Investigator For A Social Media Investigation?

While anyone can conduct a social media investigation, private investigators have access to high-powered software that makes for a quicker, more efficient search. Professional investigators also have a strong understanding of ethics and know what data must be pulled for evidence to be admissible in court. This means they are well-versed in metadata, MD5 hash value, what is required for provability, and the rules that dictate what level of searching, friending, and following is allowed, depending on the case. Additionally, if you conduct a social media investigation on your own you could see your evidence, or even your case thrown out of court.

Brian Blackwell Investigations

brianblackwell.com 

A+ Rated With The Better Business Bureau
20+ Years Experience

 

Copyright Brian Blackwell. All Rights Reserved 

Background Investigations

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS FOR EMPLOYERS & ATTORNEYS

 

A new nanny or babysitter, a potential tenant, your child's coach, online dating, prospective business partner—in today's society, there are good reasons for wanting to verify the background of people engaged in your life.

In some situations, not knowing someone's history can have dire legal, financial, and personal consequences. Instant online background checks have become widely available and are fairly inexpensive, however, they are often very limited in the scope of information and not always up-to-date.

Though, admittedly more costly, an investigation performed by the team at Brian Blackwell delivers far more reliable, accurate, comprehensive results. We perform a thorough, in-depth investigation that includes the individual's employment status and assets, not a background check that only provides limited information. You need to know the full story.

If you are considering entering into a joint business venture, merger, or acquisition, a professional background investigation report by an experienced, licensed investigator can mean the difference between financial ruin or success. Brian Blackwell can assist with substantiating facts before you assume legal responsibility and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Our Comprehensive Background Investigations consider personal history, business interests, regulatory history, professional licensing and history, criminal and civil cases, financial status and assets, associations, social media and online presence, and political contributions in our investigation.

COMPREHENSIVE BACKGROUND REPORT

Addresses
Criminal History 
Employment 
Asset Search 
Property Records 
Marriage Records 
Aliases
Professional Licenses 
Social Media Investigation 
Civil Suits
Bankruptcies 
Evictions 
Vehicle Information 
Driving Record

Brian Blackwell background investigations provide attorneys and businesses with valuable and important information. However, it is very important to be aware of their inherent limitations. Be aware that there is no such thing as a national criminal records check. There is one "nationwide" criminal database, the FBI database, also known as NCIC (National Crime Information Center) database. The FBI database is not public record and cannot be legally accessed by anyone other than criminal justice agencies. This is one of the reasons why we frequently physically hand-search documents in the actual courthouse of record.

Having handled a wide range of research assignments, and having access to sophisticated investigator databases, along with a nationwide network of professional investigators available, the team at Brian Blackwell stand behind their ability to deliver meticulously thorough background investigations. We are sensitive to the private nature of these types of investigations and work with our clients to acquire information as quickly, quietly, and efficiently as possible. We provide the information you need to protect your financial stability, safety, and personal interests.

Comprehensive and confidential investigations performed by professional investigators. We don't just research investigator databases, we also provide surveillance to ensure complete verification — we investigate. Database records often only tell half the story. We provide a Comprehensive Background Report. You get the 'complete picture.' You get complete verification of their personal history. You get 'the facts.'

Confidential services you can rely on, superior client relations, outstanding work product, and guarantee our focus will be to obtain the results necessary for you to win your case

A+ RATING
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
Trusted Professionals

Brian Blackwell Investigations
https://www.brianblackwell.biz

Copyright Brian Blackwell. All Rights Reserved. 

Forensic Statement Analysis and Advanced Interviewing

Businesses and individuals who receive anonymous threatening letters

Statement Analysis is the process of examining a person's words to determine if he or she is being truthful or deceptive.

Words reveal us. People always phrase their statements based on their knowledge and life experiences. Our words reveal our background, including our sex, race, and intelligence. Our words reveal our life experiences, including trauma and professional experiences. Our words reveal our basic personality type. The personality type can tell the investigator: how to conduct the interview and how to assess the threat.

When a Subject writes a statement, he or she provides more information than they realize. A person's statement will often contain information they did not intend to share. The key to detecting deception is to know what to look for in a person's statement.

Statement Analysis is the most accurate way of detecting deception. When a person uses nonverbal communication, you have to read or interpret their body language. This means there is always the chance of misinterpreting. With our Advanced Statement Analysis and Interviewing techniques, there is no interpreting or guess work.

To ensure complete accuracy, the team at Brian Blackwell adheres to a well established principle of having Analysis work checked by other professionals. In the "truth" business, there is no room for ego. Those who are the best and brightest investigators and analysts share a common humility that leads them to seek second and third opinions as a matter of routine. The "lone wolf " analyst would raise suspicion of accuracy and mistrust. The true professional analyst also submits to the discipline of principle and repetition.

Once the analyst locates deception, eliminating the portion(s) that were found to be unreliable or not relevant, the analyst then begins to complete a psychological profile. During an interview, the investigator/analyst bases questions on the personality of the Subject, using their own words, and focuses the time frame at the most critical moments. This is where the confession is found.

As deception, corruption, and self-interest becomes more and more acceptable and popular, often stated as the "moral high ground," and institutionalized envy condemns success and authority more and more, the need for Statement Analysis is imperative. Courts have shown prejudice against companies, and the political elite have shown contempt for authority.

Statement Analysis can be an effective investigative tool in criminal investigations and help solve sexual assault cases, theft cases, and uncover false allegations.

BRIAN BLACKWELL INVESTIGATIONS & RELATED SERVICES

Forensic Statement Analysis

Advanced Interviewing Techniques
Background Investigations
Fraud Detection
Criminal Investigations
Business/Organization Internal Investigations
Security Screening
Vetting 

The team at Brian Blackwell can help in determining the author of an anonymous threating letter. Brian Blackwell consults with analysts across the nation to identify the author of the anonymous threatening letter. All work is confidential.

If the author of the threatening letter you received hasn't been identified by law enforcement, contact Brian Blackwell. We can identify the writer of the letter. The results can be shared with law enforcement and used in the arrest and prosecution of the author.

Statement Analysis can protect you from extortion, and assessing the level of threat can help in precaution and protective measures.

The team at Brian Blackwell has correctly identified anonymous authors for businesses and individuals through its Advanced Forensic Statement Analysis and Interviewing techniques.

Nationwide service
A+ RATING  Better Business Bureau
Trusted Professionals

BRIAN BLACKWELL INVESTIGATIONS

https://www.brianblackwell.biz

Copyright Brian Blackwell. All Rights Reserved

Open Source Investigations

Open sources are simply records that are available to the public. A few examples of open sources are court, criminal, property, bankruptcy, voter registration, probate, vital, tax, church, marriage, and divorce records. Many of these records can be accessed at your local courthouse, state repositories, or even some nationally-held locations. Some can be located online or over the phone, many times for a fee. Others can only be accessed in person.

There are professional courthouse researchers whose job is to conduct courthouse research. This should tell you that this kind of research is not an easy undertaking. There are rules, fees, etiquette, schedules, and specialized knowledge of where to find what it is you are looking for and how to properly access it.

Open sources contain a wealth of information but are, unfortunately, often overlooked by private investigators. Open source research can be extremely tedious, dirty, and frustrating work. But it can also be incredibly rewarding and valuable in nearly any type of investigation.

brianblackwell.com

Social Media Investigations

Social media today is a booming industry. The use of social media as an investigative tool by private investigators is relatively new, since social media itself hasn't been around for very long. It is an ever-changing platform, but is here to stay, at least for now. With the millions of people on social media sharing their daily activities, opinions, photos, locations, and more, it would be foolish to ignore the wealth of investigative information that can be gathered.

A social media investigation involves using various forms of social media to uncover a plethora of personal information about a subject or subjects. This typically includes, but is not limited to, photos, location information, opinions, political affiliations, friends, family, associates, events, personal details, and daily activities. Our investigations include top sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, but also include dating sites, blogs, and hundreds of other lesser known social media networks.

A social media investigation is more than just a scan through a subject's public Facebook posts. Sometimes, it is difficult just to locate a subject's social media profiles since they may be using an alias or aliases. Their profiles aren't always completely public. Maybe they've deleted incriminating content or deleted an entire profile altogether. These are all reasons why it may behoove you to hire a social media professional to find details that would never be found otherwise. Social media content can sometimes very well be "the smoking gun" of a case. It can provide the one piece of evidence that clinches a case, finds a person, or keeps you from involving yourself with someone who would have likely taken advantage of you in some way.

Our investigators have spent countless hours on social media, learning the ins and outs of each site. We can navigate quickly through numerous social media sites, collecting information on subjects of which the average social media user is oblivious.

We provide our clients with due diligence in our efforts to stay updated on the ever-changing world of social media and we make it our mission to find it if it's there.

Uses for Social Media Investigations:

• finding missing persons 
• locating clients or witnesses
• locating family members
• preparing criminal and civil litigation
• insurance claims investigations, workers' compensation 
• identifying and collecting evidence of online activity 
• developing leads 
• uncovering a person's assets 
• piecing together a person's daily activities 
• determining an individual's connections, associations, friends, and family members 
• collecting personal information on individuals 
• proving/disproving an individual's claims 
• building a character profile 
• checking employee social media activity for company policy violations, unauthorized disclosure of company information, and/or misconduct/abuse of time 
• providing supplemental to any background, domestic, divorce, child custody, employee, workers' compensation, or other investigation 
• investigating stalking or harassment 
• uncovering probation or other court order violations 
• proving or disproving workers' compensation claims 
• researching activities of competitors 
• assisting in juror selection 
• verifying claims made by customers 
• vetting people 
• conducting supplier/vendor/partner investigations

brianblackwell.com

Expert Social Media Investigation

Social Media Investigation

What is a Social Media Investigation?

A social media investigation looks into the social media posts, status updates, photos, and conversations of an individual. You might require a social media investigation for a court case, custody battle, or as part of a background investigation. This can be used as evidence in court cases to support alibis and provide supplementary evidence, for risk assessment, and for active monitoring.

Social media investigations are commonly used during court cases to provide information relevant to a case, to supplement evidence, establish character, support or disqualify an alibi. Social media is being used more and more in custody cases, divorces, and even criminal trials. You also might need a social media investigation as part of a background check or risk assessment.

What Happens During a Social Media Investigation?

In a social media investigation, a private investigator will search for key terms and posts relevant to the goals of the investigation. In most cases, they will use high powered software to search, monitor activity, and set up alerts for new posts and account creations.

The private investigator will walk you through the process, make sure they understand your goals, and move forward in the best way for your case.

What are You Searching For?

What you're searching for will depend on the investigation.

For the average court case, social media can be searched to establish foundation of character, verify or disqualify an alibi, and find supporting evidence. This includes looking at the location tags for Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram posts, verifying that the posts were original, and identifying what other individuals associated with the case are involved. For some investigations, like for crimes against minors, alerts and searches can be set up for specific search terms, and it can be discovered what type and age of individuals the person is interacting with.

For a domestic investigation, you might search for photos of your partner that support your suspicions of infidelity, or check the location data on posts on Twitter to verify he or she is where they say they are. Internet messaging, Facebook messages, and Twitter direct messages can also indicate whether or not the individual is staying faithful.

A custody case can involve looking at photos posted across platforms to identify who the individual is associating with. Twitter posts could indicate whether the individual is suited and trustworthy for retaining custody, and a Tumblr investigation can reveal the individual's priorities, thoughts, and intentions.

Any case involving possible drug use can mean searching for photographs and posts across platforms that would indicate potential drug use, as well as a search for Tumblr posts of images or comments, blogs, that support drug use. This type of investigation includes searching and setting up alerts for specific terms relating to drug use. In some cases, a sting can be set up to see if, through internet messaging services, the individual is dealing or affiliated with a dealer.

Why Should I Get a Private Investigator for a Social Media Investigation?

While anyone can conduct a social media investigation, private investigators have access to high-powered software that makes for a quicker, more efficient search. Professional investigators also have a strong understanding of ethics and know what data must be pulled for evidence to be admissible in court. This means they are well-versed in metadata, MD5 hash value, what is required for provability, and the rules that dictate what level of searching, friending, and following is allowed, depending on the case. Additionally, if you conduct a social media investigation on your own you could see your evidence, or even your case thrown out of court.

brianblackwell.com
BRIAN BLACKWELL INVESTIGATIONS

Pre-Employment Background Checks

Pre-Employment Background Checks

When you are hiring employees, you might need more information on a candidate to make an informed decision.

The following list includes the types of information that employers often consult as part of a pre-employment check, and the laws governing access and use for making hiring decisions.

Credit Reports

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), businesses must obtain an employee's written consent before seeking an employee's credit report. If you decide not to hire or promote someone based on information in the credit report, you must provide a copy of the report and let the applicant know of his or her right to challenge the report under the FCRA. Visit the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection’s website for more information.

Criminal Records

To what extent a private employer may consider an applicant's criminal history in making hiring decisions varies from state to state. Because of this variation, you should consult with a lawyer or do further legal research on the laws of your state before exploring whether or not an applicant has a criminal past.

Lie Detector Tests

The Employee Polygraph Protection Act prohibits most private employers from using lie detector tests, either for pre-employment screening or during the course of employment. The law includes a list of exceptions that apply to businesses that provide armored car services, alarm or guard services, or those that manufacture, distribute, or dispense pharmaceuticals.

Even though there is no federal law specifically prohibiting you from using a written honesty test on job applicants, these tests frequently violate federal and state laws that protect against discrimination and violations of privacy.

Medical Records

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers cannot discriminate based on a physical or mental impairment or request an employee's medical records. Businesses can, however, inquire about an applicant's ability to perform specific job duties. Some states also have stronger laws protecting the confidentiality of medical records.

Bankruptcies

Bankruptcies are a matter of public record and may appear on an individual's credit report. The Federal Bankruptcy Act prohibits employers from discriminating against applicants because they have filed for bankruptcy.

Military Service

Military service records may be released only under limited circumstances, and consent is generally required. The military may, however, disclose name, rank, salary, duty assignments, awards and duty status without the service member's consent.

School Records

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and similar state laws, educational records such as transcripts, recommendations and financial information are confidential and will not be released by the school without a student's consent.

Workers' Compensation Records

Workers' compensation appeals are a matter of public record. Information from a workers' compensation appeal may be used in a hiring decision if the employer can show the applicant's injury might interfere with his ability perform required duties.

BRIAN BLACKWELL
INVESTIGATIONS

16 Important Things to Know About Court Records

When it comes to how court records are organized, which search methods work best, and how these records can supplement an investigation, there is a lot of information out there. Nearly every private investigators conference has a track on court records, and we hear time and time again that the most reliable and helpful information always come from a trained and experienced private investigator.

16 Important Things You Should Know About Court Records

Below are 16 crucial things investigators should know about court records, how to search them, and how the information can impact your investigation.

1. Court records are one of the most important and underutilized resources in an investigation

Court records don't require any special permission. The beauty of court records is that they are available to anybody. Anybody that knows how to get them can get them.

2. They don't require any special permission

While investigators who work with corporate entities may have access to emails or human resources files, and police officers will have access to certain information and the FBI even further details, court records are available to anybody who knows how to get access to them.

3. They are based on factual information

Court records provide documentation of allegations, proceedings, sworn statements, and affidavits taken under oath.

4. They paint a different picture of a person than interviews with associates will

The documents that you have in court records will provide insight as to whether they have been involved in litigation or are a convicted criminal. This can add a different layer of insight about a person or individual.

5. Court records provide millions of data points for you to access

There are 150 million cases filed each year in U.S. courts. While many of these are traffic violations, small claims disputes, and other minor cases that wouldn't be critical for most investigations.

6. In simplest terms, there are two separate areas of courts: federal courts and state courts

Federal courts handle cases like immigration law, bankruptcy law, social security law, patent law, and other federal laws that are being broken. Federal courts include the below courts (in order of superiority.)

• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals
• Special Courts
• U.S. District Court

State courts handle civil matters like contract disputes, family matters, divorces, and other state-level matters.

In order of superiority, state courts include:

• State Supreme Court
• Superior Court
• Special Courts
• Local Courts

Special courts include tax courts, bankruptcy courts, social security courts, etc.

7. There are 94 district courts in the United States

Most states only have one court, but some have more. California, for example, has four different federal courts.

8. There are over 3,000 county or county-equivalent (borough, parish) courts

In Texas alone there are 250 counties. With Texas' 250 counties, there are 454 district courts, 254 county courts, 18 probate courts, 917 municipal courts, and 822 justice courts.

In New York, there are 62 counties, and within those counties there are 62 county courts, 62 family courts, 62 surrogates courts, 79 city courts, and 1,487 town and village courts.

There are thousands and thousands of courts out there that potentially house records that might be critical to your investigation. Investigators need to have a general sense as to the number of courts that are out there, what you can do to access them, where would the information be that would be relevant to your investigation.

9. Having all known names and aliases is better than having just the birth name

When it comes to researching databases, the information was entered in by a human being, which means there can be a mistake. With nicknames, maiden names, and birth names, a civil suit may initially be filed under a different name. Having the accurate name before getting started can save time. Criminal records present the same issues, even though the police provide aliases and will log the name listed on the person's identification, misspellings and mistakes happen.

10. Civil court records typically do not have identifying information on the person involved in the suit

While you will have the name, within the lawsuit the date of birth, social security number, or address will likely not be included. This is problematic, especially for common names. Criminal records typically include identifying information (i.e. date of birth.)

11. Many courts have their own websites, but you need to understand what you're searching

No matter what database you are searching, you need to understand what is covered by that search, including what types of cases and what dates.

12. Using resources that search the same sources will make finding mistakes and omissions easier

With databases sourced by entries entered by humans, there is a margin of error. This can also help when databases are picky about how names or information needs to be entered in for a search. If you search in multiple databases, it can clue you into mistakes, omissions, and incorrect information.

13. You can find court records on state or federal repositories, court websites, third party databases, and at the physical courts

These are some of the main resources for finding court records. It's highly recommended to search through other databases to make sure there are no omissions, and to pull the record at the court to verify validity.

14. There are 24 states in the U.S. where you can obtain a statewide criminal record check

15. Going directly to the court is the most effective place to obtain records, and you can obtain the documents right there

Databases offer great information on whether a court case exists, but to pull the actual court filings you have to go directly to the court.

16. Valuable information in the docket, complaint or indictment, affidavits, final disposition, deposition and transcripts

• Docket: basic information, chronological order of all details of the case
• Complaint or Indictment: initial information and allegations
• Affidavits: information on the case
• Depositions and Transcripts: sworn testimony, legal arguments
• Final Disposition: how the case ended, charges, pleas

BRIAN BLACKWELL
INVESTIGATIONS

Comprehensive Background Checks

A new nanny or babysitter, a potential tenant or renter, your child's coach, online dating, prospective business partner — in today's society, there are good reasons for wanting to verify the backgrounds of people engaged in your life. In some situations, not knowing someone's history can have dire legal, financial, and personal impacts. Instant, online background checks have become widely available and are fairly inexpensive, however, they are often quite limited in scope and not always up-to-date. Though admittedly more costly, a thorough investigation conducted by Brian Blackwell Investigations delivers more reliable, accurate and comprehensive results.

Components of our background investigation service includes:

• Social Security Number (SSN) Trace — revealing all current and reported addresses for the last 7-10 years as well as any aliases utilized by a subject
• Statewide Criminal and Civil Records Checks — conducted according to subject's address history
• County Level Criminal and Civil Records Checks — often times requires hands-searching documents in the actual courthouse of record
• DMV Records — can reveal more than driving history as they can document an individual's history of substance abuse and/or criminal activity
• Property Records — lists all real property parcels owned by an individual or business, as recorded by county tax assessors statewide
• Bankruptcy and Lien Records
• Political Contributions
• U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Filings
• Customized and advanced background services are also available

Background checks provide agencies and individuals with extremely important information. However, it is very important to be aware of their inherent limitations. Be aware that there is no such thing as a national criminal records check. There is one "nationwide" criminal database, the FBI database, also known as NCIC (National Crime Information Center) database. The FBI database is not public record and cannot be legally accessed by anyone other than criminal justice agencies. This is one of the reasons why we physically hand-search documents in the actual courthouse of record.

Having handled a wide range of research assignments, Brian Blackwell Investigations stands behind its ability to deliver meticulously thorough background checks in addition to diligently investigating any of your personal matters. We are sensitive to the private nature of these types of investigations and work with our clients to acquire information as quickly, quietly and efficiently as possible. We provide the information you need to protect your financial stability, safety, and most importantly, your family.

BRIAN BLACKWELL
INVESTIGATIONS

Requesting Military Records

How do I request military records?

What is the turnaround time and what is available?

DD214, the official document issued to the servicemember at the time of discharge which shows branch of service, type of discharge, awards and decorations, is considered confidential and available only to the veteran. However, the near equivalent information is available from the Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF.) There is no charge and it normally takes 12 weeks to receive the information.

Contact Information

National Personnel Records Center
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, MO 63138

Phone: (314) 801-0800
FAX:    (314) 801-9195

Veterans and spouses of deceased veterans can request these records online at http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/foia-info.html . Requests cannot be emailed, only faxed or mailed. The form required to request military records is SF-180. Veterans or next-of-kin can order directly online at http://vetrecs.archives.gov

Once you have sent your request, you can check the status by going to http://www.archives.gov//st-louis/forms/index.html  or by phone
at  (314) 801-0800.  The best time to call is between 8 am and 10 am  central time.

The public can access certain military service information without the veteran's authorization or that of the next-of-kin (the un-married widow or widower, son, daughter, father, mother, brother, sister) of a deceased veteran.

Examples of information which may be available from Federal (non-archival) Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF) without an unwarranted invasion of privacy include:

• Name
• Service Number
• Dates of Service
• Branch of Service
• Final Duty Status
• Final Rank
• Military Education Level
• Awards and Decorations (eligibility only, not actual medals)
• Photograph
• Assignments and Geographical Locations
• Transcript of Courts-Martial Trials
• Place of entry into the military and location where separated

If the veteran is deceased:

• Place of Birth
• Date and Geographical Location of Death
• Place of Burial
  
  

FOIA and Official Personnel Folders (OPF)

Most information in a Federal (non-archival) Official Personnel Folder (OPF) is not releasable to the general public without the written consent of the individual whose record is involved. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) does allow, however, for certain information to be released without the individual's consent.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has determined that the following information can be released to the public:

• Name
• Positions
• Titles
• Salaries
• Rank
• Job Locations
  
  

BRIAN BLACKWELL
INVESTIGATIONS