Triangulation for Accurate Criminal Records

By: John L. Snider Sr Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Triangulation for accurate criminal records

The problem you log onto the Internet to one of the many databases that allow one to search for criminal records from your PC or laptop. Since criminal records are public records in all states they are not protected, unless it’s a juvenile or locked file. You enter in the name John Q. Public and hit the search button. Your eyes widen as hundreds of names begin filling the screen and they are all variations of the one name you entered John Public, J.Q. Public or Johnny Public. So you begin narrowing down the search and think to yourself “Well I know he lives in Virginia.” Enter and search again hundreds of names still pop up and too beat the band the cost meter shows you have already spent $265.35.

Okay, we need to stop the madness like Pappy always said let the professionals do it. These types of investigations take training time and know how. If you’re not a trained investigator you will screw the pooch on this type of case. You say you don’t have the money to hire a detective. Alright then take a Pappy tip: Just like fixing a broken pipe before you start on the job you make sure you have all the required tools. Hammer, wrench set, towels and parts. Well it’s the same for a criminal search.

First: I have to have the source name spelled properly John T. Mistake or John T. Misteak. I can’t tell how many horror stories I’ve heard where people search for hours spending hundreds searching the wrong spelling of a common name.

Second: You must have the correct date of Birth or most of it.

Third: You must have an accurate last known address or a current address. At the very least you must have a city and state.

Finally for proper identification confirmation you should know the source’s Social Security number. Not required but you should have it.

If you don’t have any of the individuals triangulation numerics listed above then do not do the search you will only be spending your precious money for nothing. And more than likely getting yourself in a bunch of trouble. You’re better off hiring a state licensed private investigator that specializes in these cases.

Conducting an inaccurate search will open the dark nefarious liability door. Say you find out John Q Public has a rape conviction on file with New York State and you bring this information forward and old J.Q. gets fired, divorced or worst commits suicide. Then we find out the good old J.Q. you found is not same J.Q. you thought it was, turns out the Date of Birth is off seventeen years…Oops.

Well neighbors I’m here to tell you “Oops” don’t get it during a civil suit or worse criminal action. People often go public with bad or erroneous information, and they usually pay for it one way or another. However if the investigation is properly conducted and the triangulation sides all match, you will have something to take to the bank, err… so to speak. Stay safe and stay smart.