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What is your "Default Search Product"? |
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A Criminal Record search of the Felony & Misdemeanor Criminal indices of the County Seat Court (s) of each County requested for search.
The default scope of search is seven (7) years back from the date of search submission. Search results returned include information regarded as "readily available" by the researcher actually conducting the search, and often will likely exceed the minimum scope of search, or may from time to time include non-criminal offense information. We guarantee a minimum of seven (7) years of review. Information returned that exceeds the minimum scope of search must be reviewed by requesting client for compliance with FCRA regulations. State Specific reporting Restrictions. Specific requests for extended scope of search are assessed an additional per-year fee of $2.00 per year beyond seven (7). Search results are filtered for Juvenile, sealed, or expunged case information that is not reportable, and should not be available to the public. In the rare instance that this information is returned, the appropriate Court authority is alerted for corrective action to be taken |
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What about the internet? |
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While we don’t maintain a website interface for submitting search requests; we do offer the ability to process search requests and return results via an XML information exchange.(Internet) We also continue to offer the existing capability for FTP and XLS transfer protocols as well.
FRS-XML-XLS-FTP-FAX-EMAIL These are BUSINESS TO BUSINESS SOLUTIONS ONLY for Employment Screening Companies.
These processes do help to streamline your inter-office search procedures, but they also present some obvious concerns as well.
Reliability: ISP's are up and down regularly. The potential mechanical, or systems failure of Internet Service providers as well as Website hosting companies is always present. If the ISP, or web-host company (yours, ours or both) are down for whatever reason, the information does not flow.
Security: Information transmitted over the internet; regardless of the level of encryption used, is broken into packets. These packets travel over many different Public networks to get to their final destination, any one of which could pose a potential security hazard.
Every time the information is re-routed to another network, there is a risk of corruption, interception, diversion, or just plain loss of data.
(click) Privacy Rights ClearingHouse - Chronology of Data Breaches
Compatibility: Encryption protocols can vary wildly from client to client. Our XML exchange uses 128-bit encryption as well as additional multiple levels of authentication in each transmission. Some XML programming is also typically required to make your system "talk" to our system in order to import and export the data being transferred. Knowledgeable tech support should have no real difficulty in accomplishing this task. Complete specification documentation will be provided to aid in the setup of this transfer method.
Contact us about the possibility of using, and the necessary system requirements to setup an XML exchange with this office.
Fax in / Fax back is secure and it works. (as long as you dial correctly! :)
Direct Dial is still more secure.
Transmitting directly via phone line, from your server to our server and back is the most secure method still currently available.
Each call is a single-key session without an “always on” connection to cyberspace and the potential dangers lurking there.
Why use the Internet?
The internet is a modern marvel that simplifies many aspects of the search process.
Always remember however, that it is just a tool and requires responsible and careful use. |
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How can you miss a Record?
Here are the 5 most common reasons for "Missed Records"; |
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1. Bad identifying Information on the subject to be searched.
If the subject name is mis-spelled, or the date of birth or, social security number is wrong, or if the subjects record information is filed under an A.K.A., or only one half of a hyphenated name, then the odds of correctly identifying that subject are obviously significantly reduced. In order to get the best possible results, always include complete identifying information on the search subject & verify that it is correct & complete prior to submitting the search request. We search what you submit.
2. Record is out of scope, ie; older than 7 years.
A Phoenix Research criminal history check covers a default period of 7 years back from the date the search request is received. Extended year searches can be performed, however the turnaround time will increase proportionately. The further back you look, the longer it takes, and additional year fees are added to the cost of the search. Misdemeanor case information can be filed in many locations throughout a specific county. Searching dozens of courts in a specific county is almost always time and cost prohibitive to our clients. Phoenix conducts our default search at the Superior, District, Common Pleas, or jurisdiction specific name for the Felony court, and the Municipal (misdemeanor) court in the same city (County seat).
3. Record is in a non-reporting court - county.
Many times, a search request is made based on information provided by the forthright, up-front applicant who wants you to know that they are not hiding anything. Congratulations! Move this application to the front of the line, and file it under "Putting the past behind". However, more often than not, the information provided is "sketchy" at best. If an applicant admits to any criminal offense, please be specific in your request, as an arrest, and trial, in a municipal "Mayors Court", will probably not show up in the criminal index at the county seat of the jurisdiction to be searched.
4. Clerk conducts the search of the criminal index.
In many jurisdictions, particularly those that charge an "ACCESS FEE" a court clerk conducts the actual search of their respective criminal index. Researchers do not have direct access to the information, and therefore must rely on the good judgment, and expertise of the clerk supplying the "No Record Found", as well as any criminal history information that may be indexed.
5. Data Entry error.
Either the information was incorrectly submitted from the source of the request, or the researcher / clerk mis-typed the identifiers into the court index system. This of course returns no information, or the wrong information. Electronic submission of requests will always reduce the chance of this possible cause (we search what you submit) with no interpretation, or transposing required from this office. |
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Why do some results take longer? |
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This is almost totally dependant on the jurisdiction to be searched. Some Courts are not computerized, and a hand search of docket books, index cards, and handwritten journals is necessary to complete a 7 year search. Additionally; In jurisdictions where researchers do not have direct access to the criminal index, we are dependant on the court clerk staff to provide the requested information. The lack of sufficient identifiers on court indices will also slow the search process. Case files for all "possibles"must be ordered for review to confirm identity.
In any Court where the assistance of a clerk is required in order to perform or complete each search request;
EXPECT A MINIMUM OF 24 HOURS DELAY, BUT AN AVERAGE OF 48 to 72 HOURS IS MORE COMMON.
Requests for searches exceeding the default Scope of 7 years will increase the delay dramatically. |
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Why do you have to order files? |
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Depending on the jurisdiction, older information is typically "archived" in a storage facility within the courthouse, or stored off site in a warehouse. The file must be returned to the court in order to review and compare identifying information on the subject to determine if it is your subject or not. |
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Why do you need the D.O.B. & the SSN? |
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Because we are providing information that can potentially impact a subjects life in a negative way, it is absolutely essential that all available identifying information be submitted in order to get the most accurate match against the criminal index as possible. As a result of recent media, privacy advocate and governmental hysteria regarding privacy rights, many court indexes are being purged of all social security numbers as a means of preventing identity theft. This shortsighted, quick fix is a bad idea, as it does increase the percentage chance of criminal records not being reported, as well as "innocent" subjects being mis-reported as having a record that actually belongs to someone else with the same name, and D.O.B.
90% of all Felony criminal records are indexed and tracked using the Surname, and Date of Birth.
90% of all Misdemeanor criminal records are indexed and tracked using the Social Security Number.
ALWAYS PROVIDE BOTH! |
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Why can't I just use a database provider or the many Court sites found on the Internet? |
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You can use this information however, it's not designed nor intended to be the sole source of information for an employment screening decision. If you look very closely at the disclaimers found on both of these sources, you'll find that database providers (under F.C.R.A. guideline) are not required to verify the information as accurate before resale, and Court indices found on the Internet have disclaimers that clearly state "Not for Commercial use", or "Not an Official Court Record", or both.
If you must use a database, then please consider this specific section from the: FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT
§ 613. Public record information for employment purposes [15 U.S.C. § 1681k]
(2) maintain strict procedures designed to insure that whenever public record information which is likely to have an adverse effect on a consumer's ability to obtain employment is reported it is complete and up to date.
For purposes of this paragraph, items of public record relating to arrests, indictments, convictions, suits, tax liens, and outstanding judgments shall be considered up to date if the current public record status of the item at the time of the report is reported. |
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What is your average turnaround time & record ratio? |
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Times include an average of 16 hours that your request is in our possession, while the courts are closed. (after normal business hours)
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007___2008___ 2009 2010 2011
Hrs./Min. 45:47 45:37 44:05 45:59 43:47 36:33 39:58 38:11 39:13 39:53 39:22 39:08 39:45 39:01 to date
ALL CLIENTS, ALL STATES, ALL SEARCHES COMBINED
HIT RATIO: Percentage of total volume of searches returned with at least 1 criminal offense reported.
For those subjects noted as having a criminal record, the average number of cases reported is currently 3
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007___2008___2009 2010 2011
Percent: 8.40 8.94 9.37 8.50 6.57 8.30 9.59 9.15 10.20 9.65 13.45 16.67 19.04 18.22 to date
of Volume |
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More of what you need to know. |
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We search court records on non-federal holidays only if the specific court has elected to remain open.
We Can Not search court records on Federal holidays or Saturday & Sunday.
Courthouses are closed on these days.
We perform every search request using all available identifiers as provided by you, the client.
We do not alter identifying information on search requests unless notified to specifically do so.
We search A.K.A.'s and Maiden names as separate requests when they are provided, and they are invoiced accordingly.
WE DO NOT GUESS,
WE SEARCH WHAT YOU SUBMIT |
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