WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new law created to improve the FBI criminal history database could affect criminal background checks, and some experts claim the legislation could effectively remove arrests and facts from individual criminal background checks. Under a provision in the proposed legislation, a person’s arrest record would be removed from the database after a year if the case disposition is unknown. Many PIs and security experts have voiced their concerns with the proposed law, saying it might make background criminal checks less accurate.

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NEW YORK, NY – A new book, “Broker, Trader, Lawyer, Spy,” by Eamon Javers, examines the world of business investigations and corporate espionage. Javers notes that the industry is diverse, including everything from a venture capitalist using CIA-worthy satellite images to PIs diving into dumpsters to dig up dirt about the competition to simple commodity intelligence investigations. The industry has gotten to competitive and so sophisticated that new businesses and investors often cannot compete. While writing the book, Javers found that investigations are much more common than he initially thought, with companies aggressively recruiting police officers, ex-military personnel and spies to act as investigators. The business is lucrative, Javers notes, that the Central Intelligence Agency permits current CIA employees to conduct investigations for companies to earn additional pay.

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DECATUR, AL – At this time of year, many consumers consider hiring a PI for the first time, as Valentine’s Day revives suspicions about unfaithful partners. Customers in Alabama may soon be hiring PIs in a new way, as the Alabama senate is contemplating new legislation (Senate Bill 24) which would make it tougher to get licensed as a PI. The new law would also regulate the state’s PI industry more. PIs, for example, would be subject to fingerprinting, ID cards, and background checks before becoming licensed. Criminals would not be allowed to become PIs. The law is welcomed by many PIs. Those PIs note that today almost anyone can become a PI, placing the burden on the consumer to investigate and research any PI services they hire carefully.

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LONDON, ENGLAND – British filmmaker David Bond is trying to determine how far surveillance has gone in our society. His latest project, Erasing David, is his attempt to outwit a group of PIs. Trying to determine whether privacy is even a reality any more, Bond challenged some top British PIs to track him using only public domain information. Considering that the average British citizen pops up on at least one of the four million public surveillance cameras in England daily and is registered on over 700 databases, living off the grid might be challenging.

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BOCA RATON, FL – A data mining project run by Hank Asher has set up offices in South Florida. Here, the former drug smuggler has a space filled with computers and technology that help investigators track down pedophiles, felons and more. Ashner’s project includes Accurint, one of his most successful database projects. Accurint allows investigators to find addresses, licenses and close relatives of just about anyone. Asher has amassed a huge collection of public records and has combined them in database products that make it easy for investigators to track down information. While investigators are excited about Asher’s projects, privacy advocates are worried that Asher’s close work with government investigators gives him access to personal records — such as health records — which could eventually fall into the hands of private businesses, thanks to Asher’s enterprise.

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LONDON, ENGLAND – Elin Nordegren, wife of troubled golfer Tiger Woods, has hired a PI, allegedly to check Woods’ assets and wealth, possibly as a precursor to divorce proceedings. Nordegren will likely divorce Woods in California, where divorce laws tend to be more generous to ex-spouses. Nordegren likely wants to know the full extent of Woods’ wealth before filing. Experts believe the pro golfer is worth about $1 billion.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – IT has shaped the PI industry in the 1990s and the first decade of the 2000s. In the 1990s, some unscrupulous PIs were buying information from people who were using computer technology to legally access the information. By the early 2000s, some experts claim PIs were using Trojan horses to glean information from computers. Experts note that due diligence investigations and investigations for assurance have become more important over the past two decades as high-profile cases of fraud (such as the case involving Bernard Madoff) have come to light. Security cases have also become more important, especially after September 11, 2001. This has meant that PIs have had to hone a whole new set of skills. While in the early 1990s computer technology skills were a nice asset for a PI to have, They are now a mainstay of the business.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the recent launch of two new online babysitting services, screening sitter’s credentials has become crucial. Online services promise comprehensive background checks of all potential babysitters as well as online scheduling of babysitting services. The idea is that the services offer added security and convenience by allowing parents to learn about potential sitters and have caregivers screened professionally. At the same time, many parents enjoy the convenience of booking caregiver time online. Some online sitting services hire PI companies to run background checks while other sites check public records and social networking sites to ensure that caregivers are safe.

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CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO– Having joined the investigation field about five years ago, PInow.com Advertiser John Mackey notes that over the past year, he has seen requests for investigations increase locally as the economy has struggled. He has been especially busy with cheating spouse investigations and workplace compensation investigations. Mackey sees no signs of a downturn yet. He has also noted that he has been asked by companies to run more background checks and to offer more security services.

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EL PASO, TX – The El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recently held its yearly Future 15 Celebration to recognize local businesses for innovation, success and passion. Among the 15 businesses honored was Sun City Security Service Inc., a PI firm offering investigative, patrol, security and alarm response services. It was first established in 1980 and now produces over $1 million in revenue a year. Another company honored was Trust Screening, a company offering background checks and other forms of employee screening.

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