Category: Investigative

WHAT IS A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK?

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CriminalBGCheck

Have you ever taken on a new job or responsibility, and found your employment pending on what your potential employer called a “criminal background check”? Never fear; this is not a subtle way of denying you the position. In fact, it’s a fairly common practice for businesses to run background checks on all employees, both new and old alike.

A criminal background check involves an extensive search through multiple records and databases to identify any criminal records, sex offender records, arrest history, citizenship, litigation records, and driving records. In some cases, particularly for positions within the federal or state governments or positions which require a good deal of paid driving time, these records may influence the employer’s decision to hire you.

If you are waiting for an employer to proceed with a background check, it may take 1-4 business days. This is because the employer must take the necessary time to go through the proper legal channels to obtain your personal records, as mandated by the business or corporation that he/she serves. Positions within the federal or state governments will require a much more thorough background check, incorporating not only your criminal history, but also your travel logs, habits & practices, frequented expenses, and financial records. This particular process can take much longer; even up to a month, if there is an extensive amount of data to study. However, for a more general search, the actual background check itself can take as little as fifteen minutes for a search and fifteen minutes for compilation/organization of the results. Most of the time delay takes place when transferring the records from the facility that has searched and compiled your information to the place of your potential employment.

A criminal background check is nothing to fear. Employers want to be aware of any legal difficulties that their employees have had in the past or are having currently, so as to make the best choices for the mutual benefit of both the business and the employee. In fact, if you are asked to submit to a criminal background check shortly after a job interview, it is likely a sign that the business is interested in hiring you.

HIRING A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR

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Why hire a private investigator?  The police don’t always have the time or the resources to tackle every unsolved case in their district. There are many reasons that a person might seek the professional aid of Private Investigative Services. Whatever your personal reasons might be, there are several things that are universally true about hiring a private investigator for a case.

Private-Investigator

Why Hire A Private Investigator?

While every agency is different, the services offered by private investigative agencies almost always include criminal background checks, the investigating of a person of interest (such as a spouse), the locating of missing person(s), the installation of surveillance cameras and/or software, and the serving of subpoenas for a courtroom session. If you are trying to accomplish one of these tasks, you may soon find yourself in the market for a private investigator.

How Should I Go About Hiring a P.I.?

When selecting an investigative service to assist you in your endeavors, the first thing you’ll want to do is visit the agency’s office. This establishes that the investigator who is working your case is not working out of his (or her) home, and that you’ll have a place to start looking for the investigator if you lose contact.

To become a private investigator and open a private investigative agency, individuals must meet the necessary qualifications and undergo rigorous scrutiny by law enforcement. This is to protect you, as a potential client, from being scammed by identity thieves who are impersonating private investigators. Before giving any personal information to an investigative service, you should ask to physically see both the agency’s license and the investigator’s license. Not to worry; no proper investigator will be offended by this inquiry, as private Investigative agencies are built on the fundamentals of trust and privacy.

Another important factor when selecting and meeting an investigator is your personal level of assurance that said investigator is willing to testify in court on your behalf, in the event that either the investigation itself or the results of that investigation should require it.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a P.I.?

Once you have established that the investigator is legally licensed and willing to testify, the next step is a consultation regarding everything that you hope to accomplish with an investigation. Many Private Investigators offer a consultation free of charge, but it’s important to clarify what the agency’s fees will be for each step of the investigation (including the consultation) beforehand.

During the consultation, which, again, should be held in the investigative service’s home office, the P.I. will also answer any other questions you may have about the costs and procedures of the overall investigation. Often an agency will offer you a flat rate for some tasks, such as background searches or research, and an hourly rate for other tasks, such as following the subject. Consider, as well, the necessary travel and “standby” time (time spent waiting for a subject under investigation to become active, for example) that your case may involve. These factors will drive your overall costs upwards.

The investigator may request a retainer to begin the process of the investigation. Depending on your particular needs, the cost of this retainer could be anywhere from $500-$5,000. The overall cost is ultimately determined based on your needs as a client.

At the close of the consultation, both parties should sign a written contract which explicitly outlines the agreed costs, social boundaries, and task lists of the investigation. Without this contract, you risk incurring additional expenses as the investigation continues.

In Summary

Investigative Services exist to help you resolve private or personal problems in a private context. Investigations can indeed be costly, and will not always yield the results you hope for; but ultimately, the investigators will serve your needs and help you identify the truth of your case. Be smart when contacting an agency, and remember the basic guidelines for sorting proper agencies from scams:

  1. Meet in the Investigator’s Office
  2. Request to See the Investigator’s License
  3. Ensure That The Investigator Will Testify In Court
  4. Put Everything Into A Written & Signed Contract

By following these universal tips and establishing a relationship of trust with the private investigator you choose, you can finally close the door on any uncertainties related to your case and find the peace of mind that you so desperately need.

3 Signs of Infidelity: How to Tell if Your Spouse is Cheating

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spouse is cheatingDo you believe your spouse is cheating? It can be a confusing time for you if you suspect your spouse of cheating, but the important thing to remember is to keep calm and level headed.  Obviously, your significant other is probably not going to be honest if you question them about your suspicions, so you may have to do some detective work for yourself. We handle a large number of infidelity and adultery investigations, so we know what the top warning signs are.

  • Change in Behavior at Home

If you notice your wife or husband acting strangely or different than he or she normally does around the house this may be something to look into.  Their normal dress, hygiene, schedule, and even diet may change if they are trying to impress someone besides you.  This doesn’t mean that if your husband or wife starts using new toothpaste they are cheating, it’s usually more drastic changes that are of concern.

  • Distance in Your Relationship

Distancing themselves from your relationship may be the most common sign that your spouse is cheating.  Spending less time with you,  sharing less information, constant arguing and disagreeing may all be signs you have an unfaithful spouse.  If your significant other has met someone else, they may feel like they are losing some of the feelings they have for you, and you might be able to tell, even if they aren’t  saying it.  Which leads us to our next sign :

  • They Might Tell You About Their New “Friend”

It is not uncommon for a cheating husband or wife to tell their spouse about their affair, usually unintentionally.  Since families generally share how their day was with each other, a cheating spouse may tell their partner about a new “friend” they met, or have been hanging out with.  They think since their husband or wife already knows that they are spending time with this new person, that they can’t possibly be accused of having an affair because they told you about it!  They may use statements like “We’re just friends”, even if they haven’t been asked about their relationship with this new “friend”, and it usually means there’s more there than just a simple friendship.

 If you suspect your husband, wife, fiance, girlfriend, or boyfriend of cheating, and you aren’t sure, you may want to pay closer attention to their habits and how they interact with you.  Your safety is paramount, so if you need some assistance, we offer cheating spouse investigation services.  Call us today for a consultation.

New Location in Bel Air, MD!

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Absolute Investigative, Fingerprinting and Security Services – Bel Air.In case our visitors didn’t know, we recently opened a second Absolute office at a separate location, in Bel Air, MD.  You can find the address, contact information, a map, and directions on our

In case our visitors didn’t know, we recently opened a second Absolute office at a separate location, in Bel Air, MD.  You can find the address, contact information, a map, and directions on our contact page.

Our headquarters in Towson is still very much up and running, and you can visit either location for any of our investigation, security, or fingerprinting services.  Now you don’t have to drive all the way to Towson if you live in or around the Bel Air area in Maryland!  Our hours of operation for the Bel Air location are as follows :

  • Monday : 9:30A.M. – 4:30P.M.
  • Wednesday : 9:30A.M. – 4:30P.M.
  • Friday : 9:30A.M. – 4:30P.M.

Be sure to stop by if you need fingerprinting, security services, or private investigation!

Private Investigation: Then & Now

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private detective
Sherlock Holmes, the most well known private detective of all time.

Sherlock Holmes, the most well-known private eye in show business. Usually, the first thing people think of when they hear “Private Investigator.”  He made and still makes it look cool to be a private eye.  For those who don’t know, a private investigator is someone who offers investigative services to people, businesses or organizations.  Usually, whoever wants to take advantage these services has some uncertainty or something “fishy” that they want to have investigated, and the private investigator does this for a fee.  You may have heard these investigators referred to as private eyes, private detectives, investigators, agents, spies, and sometimes P.I.’s, all of which are acceptable.

Then:

Private investigation has been an age-old occupation in America and began in the 1850’s.  Alan Pinkerton, a historical figure in this industry, was the very first private investigator in the United States.  He got his start simply by being a good Samaritan and informing local police of a group of counterfeiters nearby.  He was deputized for his act of valor, and from there decided to become a full-time police officer.  After working in the field for some time, Pinkerton noticed an increase in crime in Chicago and took it upon himself to do something about it.  He opened the nation’s first private investigation firm – Pinkerton National Detective Agency – and his services were very popular.  His firm was used by citizens, businesses, and even the U.S. Government.  Pinkerton’s company was his legacy and is still around as a subsidiary of global security group: Securitas.

Now:

Private investigation is still a very widely used service in the U.S. today.  Private detectives are used in criminal and civil cases all the time, like child custody, alimony and divorce court cases.  One of the most popular reasons to hire one today is to investigate adultery.  Unfortunately, cheating spouses are a very common topic in the private investigation field, and one of the most lucrative. On a business level, private investigators are sometimes hired by potential investors to make sure the investment group they’re about to give money to isn’t a pyramid scheme, and everything is legitimate.

So, even though every private investigator isn’t as witty and slick as Sherlock Holmes, it is still an important industry, and one of the ones that helped shape our country.