THE INTERMOUNTAIN PI: A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR PODCAST | EP 11 | DEC 20, 2018

NEW PRIVATE  INVESTIGATORS AND THE DATABASE EFFECT  If you’ve dealt with prosecutors or law enforcement you’re familiar with the CSI Effect. It suggests that juries are affected by the exaggerated portrayal of forensic science on television shows like CSI and NCIS.  These shows have distorted the public’s understanding of forensics.  This becomes clear when we look at jury behavior. Juries expect prosecutors to explain DNA and forensic science the way it’s depicted on television.  The CSI Effect has given juries unreasonable expectations.  They expect prosecutors to provide definitive evidence of guilt vis-à-vis forensics.  They won’t convict a defendant without that evidence.  All because of television. 

There’s a similar phenomenon in the private investigation industry.  Although it doesn’t have a name.  I didn’t come up with the idea. I’m just one of many investigators that have recognized it.  With this in mind, I would like to give it a name and call it The Database Effect

WHAT IS THE DATABASE EFFECT?

The Database Effect is the belief or practice, by new private investigators, that conducting an investigation simply requires a proprietary database report. The report then becomes the extent of the investigation.  Let me give you an example.  Some investigators cut a comprehensive report from a database and then paste it on their letter head.  It’s then sold to the client as a “background check.” 

Another example would be private investigators using a database to locate a missing person.  If they can’t find the subject’s current address in the database they inform the client that they couldn’t find the subject.  That’s not an investigation.

Instead of being an investigative tool, the database becomes the actual investigation.  This is short-sighted.  It’s a disservice to the client.  Of course, there’s a place for proprietary databases.  I use them daily.  I can’t conduct investigations without them.  But they supplement my other investigative efforts. I also make telephone calls and search public records. Most importantly, I use old fashion shoe leather.  In other words, I knock on doors and talk to people.

“Instead of being an Investigative Tool, the Database becomes the Actual Investigation.”

Like Swiss cheese, a background check that relies solely on a database is a background check full of holes.  If my client wants a criminal check and I find No Record in a database, that may or may not be accurate.

EXAMPLES OF THE DATABASE EFFECT

Unfortunately, many new investigators are either inexperienced, or just ignore the database record coverage area.  In other words, depending on the state searched, a database can  provide full, limited or no coverage of a record.

Let me give you another example.  I’ll use a major proprietary database I’ll call Database X.  I searched for a criminal record on a subject using Database X.  I had already independently confirmed the subject had a felony record in Montana.  The results of my search?  No Record.  I have just provided inaccurate information to my client.  Private investigators must understand how databases work.  I then checked the record coverage area in Database X and found something interesting.  They don’t provide court record information for criminal records.  Furthermore, Database X only provides limited arrest information for just a few counties in Montana. 

So what does this mean?  It means my record search was useless.  I also just assured my client that the subject has no criminal record in Montana.  When in reality, he does.  This mistake could have far-reaching effects. 

That’s just one example of how the Database Effect can influenc...