“Forensic Testimonial Evidence Recovery – The FTER Method” is described as the art and science of the interview.  This is Brandon’s second investigative book; his first is “Uncovering Reasonable Doubt:  The Component Method.”  Although it is not necessary to have studied and read the first book for the benefit of the FTER Method, it is highly recommended as the two complement each other.  The two are based on the same fundamental evidentiary issues necessary for criminal defense, justifying about 1/3 of this book devoted to those concepts.

The book opens with reminding the reader that as investigators, we are truth seekers as an ultimate goal.  Achieving that goal, through the investigative process, often relies greatly on the skills of the investigator as an interviewer.  The investigator pursues evidence, truth and facts.  This book consists of 13 chapters that progressively and logically follow a series of informative steps to an in-depth explanation, study and application of the FTER Method.  This book was written for all investigators – from the novice to the experienced.  Those areas for the novice remind the experienced, and those written for the experienced prepare the novice.  This is done through three basic areas of the book – evidence and fundamental concepts, application of the concepts, and advanced techniques.

Brandon takes the investigator through the understanding of evidence, fact finding and recovery of evidence.  This is a process and it is important to understand what evidence is and how it is admitted as evidence by the court.  Knowing this process is fundamental to being able to investigate and conduct interviews, that successfully elicit evidentiary information.  The FTER Method takes the evidentiary process further in defining testimonial evidence.  As pointed out, testimonial evidence is often forgotten or overlooked, which is a detriment to the investigative process.  The successful investigator knows, or will learn, the value of testimonial evidence and the interview methodologies necessary to conduct and complete successful forensic interviews.

The novice is briefly introduced to The Component Method as part of the fluid and dynamic investigative process.  Having a defined and consistent investigative methodology is necessary to assuring that all investigations leave no stone unturned – this book demonstrates the interview skills necessary, and how to apply those skills.  Leaders of the investigative profession may have different methodologies, but they all share the same purpose and fundamentals.  That further makes this book a practical adaptation to all manners of investigations and methodologies.  This is where the challenge of the book and FTER method begins.  The reader is challenged to learn, adapt and apply the concepts – including with practical mini-tests throughout each chapter.

In the process of interviewing, the investigator is an astute observer making inquiries to assess the facts leading to the truth.  Brandon clearly defines the history and purpose of the interview, and its application to the law and judicial process.  This is what begins to define the forensic interview.  He defines the personal and professional influences, personal perspectives and professional perspectives experienced by the investigator.  The understanding of the influences and perspectives as they relate to the interview also guide the techniques used.

Brandon details how to maneuver through these influences in the interview preparation and actual interview process.  The job of the investigator is professional, and therefore only considerations of professional, legal and ethical exist; we must set aside any personal morality.

Is the interview an art or science?  Brandon reminds us that it is both, and subject to those personal and professional influences.  However, because interviews are fluid and dynamic, there is no method of scientific testing or validation.  He further reminds us of the difference between the interview and interrogation; including their purpose, application and what defines them legally.  This book and the concepts of FTER aid the investigator in avoiding confrontational and accusatory interviews.

Understanding that the interview is as much art as science is the premise of this book.  The interview is to obtain evidence (Recovery) in the adversarial judicial system – Forensic application.  Interviews are Testimonial.  Therefore, Forensic Testimonial Evidence Recovery.  This is a strong concept, that when appropriately applied, is a powerful technique.  When applied consistently as part of an overall investigative methodology, it strengthens any criminal defense investigation and strategy.  Combined, the concepts of Brandon’s Component Method and FTER Method will Uncover Reasonable Doubt.

Critical thinking and deductive reasoning are vital to the investigator and the evidence recovery process – including the forensic interview.  As fact finders – truth seekers – this is the underlying purpose of the interview.  Without the interview, a critical component of the investigative process, and related evidence, is lost.  This process begins with the review of the provided discovery, other investigative information and concluding with truth assessment.  To fully apply these investigative principles the investigator must understand the moral and malicious anatomy of the lie – and how the same applies to why a person would tell the truth.  Is it to spare a person’s feelings or avoid punishment?  Perhaps to see someone punished for an unrelated event, retribution?  Brandon presents various scenarios of applying the FTER Method to the concepts of assessing the truth.  Brandon details this importance by presenting this decades old tried and true methodology.  This is from review to question preparation, and then the forensic interview stage of evidence recovery.

It is important to pay close attention to how Brandon describes, demonstrates and imparts the application of this FTER Method before continuing the book and learning process.  The basic interview techniques are necessary to conduct effective fact-finding and truth verification interviews.  He takes it to the next level for the experienced investigator in the stages of the advanced interviewing techniques.  In one book Brandon covers the fundamentals and foundations, as well as the techniques and application, with the opportunity for the investigator to learn and apply advanced skills.  The advanced skills include visual imagery, Kinesics techniques, and how the basic interview is further assessed and advanced using these techniques.

One key task that Brandon reminds the investigator to not, at any cost or purpose, skip or overlook is the interview of the defendant.  It is simply not possible to conduct any investigation or develop any legal strategy without the investigator conducting an interview – separate from any intake interview the attorney may have had.  Brandon explains how the defendant interview is a foundation to the remainder of the investigative and testimonial evidence recovery process.  This empirical information is vital to demonstrating reasonable doubt to any element of any charge presented against the defendant.

In 13 chapters and a summary, renowned and respected Brandon Perron, CCDI, takes the criminal defense investigator down a road that is not well traveled but should be.  He maps out the concepts of the FTER Method, demonstrating and imparting the art and science of the forensic interview and related testimonial evidence recovery.

© Dean A. Beers and Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC – April 2012.  May be reprinted with permission and source acknowledgment.  Contact beersda@Forensic-Investigators.com

Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI is a Certified Legal Investigator and Certified Criminal Defense Investigator.  He is a published author and has lectured extensively and authored multiple articles, peer-reviewed white papers, including Practical Methods for Legal Investigations: Concepts and Protocols in Civil and Criminal Cases, released by CRC Press in February 2011, and previously Professional Investigations:  Individual Locates, Backgrounds and Assets & Liabilities.

Mr. Beers a member and Forensic Investigations Advisor of the Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council.

He began his investigative career in 1987 and operates Associates in Forensic Investigations LLC, with his wife, Karen, also a CCDI.  They have two daughters, a granddaughter and identical twin grandsons.

Pensacola, FL, April 4, 2012

Click here to view the approval document

“We worked closely with the Missouri Board of Private Investigator and Private Fire Investigator Examiners during the curriculum review process.” said http://PIeducation.com Course Director, L. Scott Harrell. “The Board wanted to ensure our training met their professional standards and that we would serve the licensees of Missouri with quality training opportunities. We’re proud to have met and exceeded their expectations.” Harrell concluded.

The following continuing education courses are currently approved in Missouri:

Serious Surveillance: Obtaining Video Evidence that will Stand up in Court  – Approved for 14 CE Hours in Missouri

Investigations in the Land of the Lost: The Art of Skip Tracing and Missing Persons Investigations – Approved for 14 CE Hours in Missouri

Industry Ethics and Laws for Private Investigators – Approved for 2 CE Hours in Missouri

We suggest to all of our Missouri continuing education clients to take one of the above approved 14 hour investigative studies courses and if you order any of these courses priced at $119.95 or above you will receive the 2-hour Ethics course absolutely FREE.

Missouri Continuing Education Requirements:

Chapter 324 – Occupations and Professions General Provisions
Section 324.1122 A licensee shall successfully complete sixteen hours of continuing education units biennially. An individual not licensed as a private investigator or private fire investigator who is hired as an employee by a private investigator agency or private fire investigator agency shall successfully complete eight hours of continuing education units biennially. Such continuing education shall be relevant to the private investigator or private fire investigator business and shall be approved by the board as such.

About PIeducation.com

PIeducation.com has provided CEUs to Investigation Agencies and their employees via Internet and distance education since July 1, 2002. As of March 2012, the company has conferred over 104,000 CE hours to private investigator licensees in the states of Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas, Oregon, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arizona and Iowa.

Questioned Documents v. 2009 NRC Report Decision of Note:

The D.C. Court of Appeals has held on the state of forensic science-that handwriting comparison and identification, as practiced by FBI examiners, passes the Frye test for admissibility. The case came about as a result of the findings in the 2009 NRC report  that concluded, “With the exception of nuclear DNA analysis, . . . no forensic method [of ‘matching’] has been rigorously shown to have the capacity to consistently, and with a high degree of certainty, demonstrate a connection between evidence and a specific individual or source.”

Labor and Employment Law Related:

Law Enforcement Needs No Warrant for Phone Number:

7^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals out of Chicago has ruled that police may search a cell phone for its number without obtaining a warrant. The phone number on the cell phone, which is effectively a computer, was seized from the defendant at the time of arrest in a narcotics bust. It was used to subpoena the owner’s call history, revealing conversations with co-conspirators. Judge Richard Posner, writing for the three-judge panel hearing arguments in this case on January 25 and which was decided February 29, compared a cell phone not only to a computer, but to a pocket diary.  He wrote: “If police are entitled to open a pocket diary to copy the owner’s address, they should be entitled to turn on a cellphone to learn its number.” Furthermore: “If allowed to leaf through a pocket address book, as they are … , they should be entitled to read the address book in a cellphone. If forbidden to peruse love letters recognized as such found wedged between the pages of the address book, they should be forbidden to read love letters in the files of a cellphone.”

Citing cases going back to the 1981 decision in New York v. Belson and the “Robinson Rule” it would be wise for professional investigators to take time to read Judge Posner’s 15-page decision. Many factors were considered, such as whether inspecting a cellphone is greater than the searching of a “container” or if such might actually be a “stun Gun.”

Although the actual make and model of the cell phone was never identified the decision noted  “that an iPhone application called an iCam allows one to access a home computer’s webcam, thus allowing one to survey inside a home while a thousand miles away. Thus at the touch of a button a cell phone search becomes a  house search, and not a search of a ‘container’ in any normal sense of that word, though a house contains data.” 

Judge Posner’s decision ends: “But these are questions for another day, since police did not search the content’s of the defendant’s cell phone, but were content to obtain the cell phone’s phone number. – Affirmed”  

Expect this Fourth Amendment issue to eventually be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. It will have ramifications as controversial as the recent GPS tracking case of U.S. v. Jones.

The decision in USA v. Flores-Lopez is available at: http://www.abajournal.com/files/CellPhones.pdf

HR 4112: Security Related:

Legislation introduced by Congressman Thomas Marino (R-PA-10), if passed, will allow DOJ Authorized Third Party Screeners to Conduct FBI Checks in Instances Where States Do Not Provide for Such.

The National Association of Security Companies (NASCO), representing contract private security companies, has endorsed H.R. 4112, the Private Security Officer Screening Improvement Act (PSOSIA), introduced March 6 by Representative Thomas Marino (R-PA-10).

In 2004, Congress passed the PSOEAA, the Private Security Officer Employment Authorization Act, recognizing the need for employers of private security officers to have access to an important criminal background check — the FBI criminal history record check.  However, the PSOEAA required such checks to be conducted by a state government agency, and unfortunately, too many states still do not provide the checks for all security officers eligible to be checked under the PSOEAA. This effectively means that tens if not hundreds of thousands of security officers in the United States work without a full FBI check of their criminal history.

The PSOSIA amends the Private Security Officer Employment Authorization Act (PSOEAA) to allow Department of Justice authorized “screening entities” to conduct FBI checks on private security officers, as provided for in the PSOEAA, for authorized employers when such checks are not available from the State of employment.

“The PSOSIA will dramatically increase availability of FBI criminal background checks for all private security officers,” said Jeff Flint, Executive Director of NASCO, “and that will make the public safer.  The public wants to know that when they rely on a private security officer for their safety as they do in so many venues, that officer has been subject to a background check. It’s that simple.”

The PSOSIA would allow employers of security officers, to go through a Department of Justice-authorized “screening entity” for an FBI check when the state of employment does not provide the check. A “screener” is defined as a third-party entity authorized by DOJ to access FBI criminal records and provide background checks for employers.  Third party entities are already being used for congressionally authorized FBI background checks in fields such as banking, nursing homes, financial securities, and others.  Their use should also be expanded to private security. ISPLA has been actively working to gain similar access for other entities and for additional purposes.

“NASCO has always been at the forefront of increasing standards and professionalism in private security,” continued Flint. “The current gap in the PSOEAA is a public safety and homeland security risk and it must be closed.

ISPLA supports this legislation and applauds NASCO’s work in lobbying for this important legislation. We also urge Congress to act quickly to adopt it.

The course is completely online and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The format makes training both affordable and practical; anyone can complete the entire course from wherever and whenever he or she wants! Students, and their employers, no longer need to bear the inconvenience or burdensome expense of travel and time away from work. There is no time limit in which a student must complete a course; they may take as much time as needed and work at their own pace. Our courses are competitively priced and group discounts are available upon request.

Our primary goal when creating the 70-hour Georgia private detective pre-licensing course was to provide a superior training experience over and above anything else available on the market and, through regular updates, to keep it that way. Upon completion of this course, the student will not only have obtained the fundamental skills and tools necessary to considerably shorten the “learning curve” required to be a working private investigator in Georgia, but they will also have been exposed to the inner-workings of a number of different investigative specialties as well.

Going way “beyond the basics” means that our graduates are ready for success!

The course outline can be found here: http://pieducation.com/georgia

P.S. Did you know that you can make a generous additional income simply by referring training clients to this course (and others)? Click here to learn more about our affiliate marketing program: http://compasspointpi.com/affiliates

Please feel free to me, should you have any questions or if we may be of further assistance.

Warmest Regards,

Stephanie Mitchell
Manager, Continuing Education
http://www.PIeducation.com

Ofc: (877) 363-4887
Fax: (877) 761-8264
stephanie@compasspointpi.com

L. Scott Harrell
Course Director, PIeducation.com
Georgia Private Detective Classroom Training Instructor #CLTR000950

The ability to conduct surveillance/stake outs is by far one of the most important and lucrative skills a private investigator and process server can possess. Surveillance/Stake outs can also be one of the most difficult, tedious, challenging, yet rewarding tasks performed. It is a skill-set that requires concentrated practice built upon a solid foundation of time-tested fundamentals. This course is written to give you the information needed to successfully obtain and report video-based evidence that can withstand the scrutiny of litigation and give your clients the edge they need.

This course, written by L. Scott Harrell, teaches course participants the most important aspects of surveillance: how to prepare for a surveillance assignment before leaving the office, detailed diagrams describing the surveillance set-ups and investigator positioning used by veteran investigators, using today’s technology in throughout every aspect of surveillance operations, preparing professional surveillance reports and understanding the many legal aspects affecting video evidence obtained through covert surveillance.

This course is approved for 10 hours of continuing education for process servers in Arizona. An exam will be administered upon the conclusion of the program. If the candidate passes with a score of 75% or better, a certificate of completion will be issued in accordance with state licensing authority standards.

Arizona Private Process Server Continuing Education Policies

Pursuant to the Arizona Code of Judicial Administration §7-204: Private Process Server,(hereafter referred to as “Code Section”) all certified private process servers must complete continuing education every twelve months.

For more info see: http://azcourts.gov/cld/PrivateProcessServer.aspx

About PIeducation.com

PIeducation.com has provided continuing education to private investigators, process servers and bail enforcement agents via the Internet and distance learning opportunities since July 1, 2002 and is the undisputed market leader in this industry segment. As of January 2012, the company has conferred over 61,000 CE hours to over 5,800 licensees in among the following states Arizona (CE for Private Process Servers), Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Oregon, North Carolina,  South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

The on-line format makes continuing education (CE) affordable, flexible and practical. Students no longer need to bear the high expense of travel and time away from work. Completing courses is easy and done at the student’s own pace. All courses can be downloaded for off-line reading rather than staying connected to the Internet the entire time. Students can log out and back into their courses whenever they want and pick up where they last left off at any time. If students choose to download the course material then they can finish studying at their leisure before logging back in to take an online, open book, final exam that is submitted via a simple browser-based form.

PIeducation.com is a division of CompassPoint Investigations, private investigators in Pensacola, FL.

“We know that most people associate surveillance with this type of vehicle, and I was determined to find a way to develop a system that allowed our investigators to blend more seamlessly with their environment,” explained Zach Grove, company president.

After months of testing and re-tooling, Zach developed the Unmanned Video Surveillance Platform.  The system consists of a pan/tilt/zoom camera that is covertly concealed on the interior of a car without any tinted windows or other stereotypical “surveillance” fittings.  The camera is covertly connected to an interior digital video recorder (DVR), which saves all recorded material for later retrieval and editing.  The vehicle is parked in a location within eye-shot of the surveillance location and left alone, seemingly empty.  The investigators then position themselves in a second vehicle nearby to conduct trailing surveillance if or when it is necessary and view all the activity on a laptop via a secure internet connection.

“The beauty of this system is that my investigators can see what is going on in real-time and can control the camera’s movements with the click of a mouse.  We have eliminated the need to place an investigator in a sometimes compromising position without sacrificing any visibility.  It is more covert and much more effective,” stated Grove.

The Unmanned Video Surveillance Platform is utilized in nearly all of Armada Global’s investigations and is only inhibited by lack of vehicle parking or low/no wireless signal since the system operates via wireless technologies.  It has now been used and proven successful in thousands of hours of real surveillance cases.

There are, of course, obvious benefits to using this system like more covert surveillance and increased officer safety since personnel don’t need to be physically present to view and record activity.

“Safety is sometimes a huge concern to us, especially when we’re operating in urban areas known to have a high crime rate.  I feel better knowing that I’m not putting my people out where it would not be safe for them,” said Grove.  “We drop the Unmanned Video Surveillance Platform in place and then move to a location, possibly a public establishment on a busy street, where safety would not be as much of a concern.”

Another advantage to using the Unmanned Video Surveillance Platform is the potential to decrease budgetary requirements.  On cases where trailing surveillance is not needed or required, the system can be placed in position and then monitored and controlled from the home office.  This allows for fewer personnel to be out on the streets and has the potential to cut payroll significantly.  Increased investigator comfort is also another significant benefit, especially when dealing with temperature extremes.

“Anyone who has ever sat in the back of a vehicle to conduct surveillance knows that there is nothing worse than a hot, summer day,” explained Grove.  “Opening the vehicle’s windows or, worse yet, turning the vehicle on to run the AC, largely decreases the covertness of the operation.  The Unmanned Video Surveillance Platform can run effectively in very hot and cold temperatures, which allows the investigator to sit comfortably in air conditioning throughout the day.”

Armada Global’s management team has come to realize during the two-years that they have been utilizing the Unmanned Video Surveillance Platform that it would have a tremendous benefit to law enforcement, especially for narcotics investigations or pre-raid planning.  As such, they are now scheduling demonstrations and making the system available for purchase by law enforcement or licensed private investigators.  The Unmanned Video Surveillance Platform can be customized for specific needs or uses and comes with two pan/tilt/zoom cameras, DVR, battery power, connecting cables, a laptop, and all required software in a rugged Pelican Case for easy storage and deployment.  An Armada Global representative will also provide up to 20-hours of system set-up and training.

For additional information on Armada Global, Inc and their Unmanned Video Surveillance Platform or to schedule a demonstration, please call 1-412-253-2013 or email admin@armadaglobalinc.com.

Armada Global has also set up a closed group for PIs and LE on Facebook for those that want to view demo clips, evaluate the system, etc. You’ll need to send a join request after following this link http://www.facebook.com/groups/135852289865448/

They are only allowing licensed PIs and LE access, so if your FB account doesn’t note this association, please email us in advance with the name of your company or department - admin@armadaglobalinc.com

All selected partners will receive 30% of every completed sale referred through the partner’s text link or banner ad ($37.49 for every PI course and $38.99 for every bail enforcement course); every sale will be tracked through a unique affiliate ID.  All affiliate partners will receive a generous commission, as well as the tools, marketing tips and advertising collateral required to effectively support all marketing efforts.  Additionally, partners will have access to a world-class affiliate resource center offering the ability to track online earnings, marketing statistics and commission payments in real-time.

Click Here to Learn More About the CompassPoint Investigations Affiliate Sales Program

“Affiliate Marketing” is a limited business partnership in which a select group of people market and advertise another company’s products via a special link, code or web page.  This win-win partnership enables the affiliate marketers to earn income by receiving a specified percentage of every completed sale that is referred from their specific site while, at the same time, the company is able to grow a sizable sales force of independent contractors who are paid a commission.

Affiliate marketers usually promote these products via company-provided advertising banners and text links placed in their own websites, email signature blocks, social networks, bulletin boards, customer email lists, published articles, videos and pay-per-click advertising campaigns (just to name a few possibilities).

CompassPoint Investigations is not only a substantially successful private investigation and process serving agency operating in Northwest Florida and Coastal Alabama but also operates several very popular investigation websites and online resources.  The most notable of which include:

• PIeducation.com (the undisputed market leader in state-approved continuing education for private investigators);
• BeABountyHunter.com (the most referenced bail enforcement training course available);
• BeAPrivateEye.com (the most complete guide on how to become a private investigator); and, of course,
• PursuitMagazine.com (a free online magazine for professional investigators, process servers, bail enforcement agents, skip tracers, collateral repossession agents, security professionals and other related professions).

The owner, L. Scott Harrell, is a proven professional investigator, educator, and mentor who is capable of highly successful project launches; he is now seeking qualified affiliate marketing partners to help roll out this current marketing initiative as well as help launch four new investigation-related products and services that will be available to affiliate partners very soon.

There are 17 affiliate partnerships available right now.  All affiliates must have a website or an online newsletter where a link or simple banner ad can be placed. To be considered for eligibility, potential partners must first complete this DEAD SIMPLE application form.  Affiliates will be selected based upon a number of factors such as reputation, professional experience, reach, affinity, available resources, marketing experience, etc. For more information, follow the link to the Affiliate Sales Page and the Frequently Asked Questions page.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Scott Harrell, CompassPoint Investigations
ScottH @ compasspointpi (dot) com
www.CompassPointPI.com

Pursuit Magazine Overhauls Information Network With Launch of PursuitWire.com.

January 5, 2012, Pensacola, FL  -   Pursuit Magazine launched the innovative newswire site, http://pursuitwire.com, on January 1, 2012 in an effort to educate and improve the success rates of members of the private investigation, security and bail enforcement industries.  PursuitWire delivers important and breaking new stories that are directly related to private investigators, security, fraud, technology, forensics, hacking, crime, fugitives, bail, repossession and pertinent industry-related business issues.   PursuitWire disseminates timely news articles that have been collected from newswires and international media outlets via its website http://pursuitwire.com and through the associated Twitter account located at https://twitter.com/pursuitmag.  There are also several different RSS feeds available for PursuitWire, enabling subscribers to specifically tailor the type of information they wish to receive.  Additionally, subscribers can monitor the PursuitWire feed through a self-updating ticker on the Pursuit Magazine homepage at http://pursuitmag.com.

L. Scott Harrell, the owner of CompassPoint Investigations, Pursuit Magazine’s parent company, said, “Although Pursuit Magazine and PursuitWire are affiliated, they are very different products.  Pursuit Magazine contains original, timeless articles that are written by bona fide industry leaders with the primary purpose of sharing specific information.  Pursuitewire.com was created to fulfill the demand for up-to-date industry-specific news, and current affairs.  Timely news stories are quite compelling and often very educational at the same time.  It is a combination of the kind of information available through Pursuit Magazine and PursuitWire that helps our readers become more effective and successful professionals; Pursuitwire.com embodies the forward-thinking vision and the commitment that Pursuit Magazine has to the growing needs of its subscribers. While I am aware that several other very capable newswires already exist, we hope to differentiate PursuitWire from them by featuring content that is consistently more relevant to our established base of Pursuit Magazine subscribers. Lastly, we intend to bring innovation to the PursuitWire website through the varied use of emerging forms of media for a richer overall user experience.”

CompassPoint Investigations is a private investigation agency primarily providing insurance fraud investigation and service of process services, headquartered in Pensacola, Florida and serving the Gulf South area between Mobile, AL and Destin, FL.   In addition to the Pursuit Magazine network of websites, other subsidiaries of CompassPoint Investigations include PIeducation.com, the market leader in state-required continuing education for private investigators, as well as several other highly regarded online training websites.

# # #

TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS

Thank you for being a part of Pursuit Magazine and for helping us to make 2011 the BEST year yet for our online publication; we sincerely hope that you not only enjoy reading our articles but that they have helped you personally or professionally in some way, too.

As we look forward to 2012, we have some really interesting plans that are coming together nicely as part of our efforts to not only to keep you informed, but to keep you engaged and networked into the professional investigations community as much, or as little, as you might want. We are developing new partnerships with other investigators and content providers who are producing informative and interesting sources of information! Look for a more diverse mix of media, especially video, from us in our posts in the coming year!

Please support our advertising partners, without them we could not continue to provide quality regular content to our readers for FREE!

Our top advertisers of 2011:

IRBsearch, LLC

“IRBsearch provides access to only the highest quality data and the most current information available – that’s why investigators have come to rely on us for fast and accurate information.  We know you have choices when it comes to selecting a data provider – and that’s why IRBsearch is not here just to meet your expectations, but to exceed them. Our leadership team has a combined 40 plus years of investigative experience in data acquisition and pairing advanced technologies with the best possible data sources.”

TracersInfo.com

“Tracers is one of the nation’s leading providers of identification and credential verification data. Tracers collects and maintains databases of public and non-public background information for law enforcement, government agencies, law firms, private investigators, insurance companies and other qualified businesses. Our products are designed to assist customers in managing risk through fraud detection and prevention, risk evaluation, identity verification, pre-screening and due diligence.”

IRBstore.com

“Our high-quality merchandise is carefully selected by private investigators and security professionals to bring you the best products. Whether you work in investigations, process service or bail and/or recovery operations, IRBstore.com is your one stop for affordable equipment, expert advice and superior customer service. IRBstore.com also provides security equipment for business owners, home owners, and personal safety use.”

Champlain College

“Champlain College’s digital forensic master’s programs meet a need for specialized education that builds your leadership skills, expands your networking base and accelerates your career. In a field with few graduate-level opportunities, our students are guided by well-connected faculty practitioners who work closely with the public and private sectors to ensure that Champlain’s programs meet the industry’s needs.”

Case Point, Inc

“Case Point Inc. is the best investigative Case Management Software for Private Detectives and Process Servers.  Our investigator business tools can manage and track cases, create invoices, organize media content; such as video surveillance, photos, and much more.”

Risk Management Research & Investments, Inc (RMRI, Inc)

“RMRI, Inc. is a full service Private Investigation Agency located in Columbia, MO. RMRI, Inc. is owned and operated by Ricky B. Gurley, who has been in the business of investigations and recovery operations for over eighteen (18) years.”

Thomson Reuters’ Clear

“CLEAR is an investigative platform designed for professionals who need information about individuals and companies. With fast access to a vast collection of public and proprietary records, CLEAR helps you find out about people and their connections.”

PI Agent

TO OUR ADVERTISERS:

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Your support means everything to us and the profession! In return we will continue our commitment to you, to keep our current readers happy and bring in many new subscribers in 2012 by proving that we are the very best resource for information, industry news and offering the types of services they want!

From everyone here at CompassPoint Investigations to wish you and yours a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Whether you were naughty or nice this year, we hope that you get everything you want.

Thank you for allowing us into your lives… now THAT is a very special gift!