Information Resources for Case Development

“Skip Tracing”Information Resources for Case Development

“Skip Tracing”

Presented byJohn Oback

California Environmental Protection AgencyEnforcement Intelligence Team

Presented byJohn Oback

California Environmental Protection AgencyEnforcement Intelligence Team

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Cal/EPA Enforcement InitiativeCal/EPA Enforcement Initiative

• Cal/EPA-wide Data Dictionary• Communication Strategy • Enforceable Permits • Enforcement Intelligence • Enforcement Program Operational Plan• Environmental Data Exchange • GIS Contracts • Regional/Cross-media Training Program • Single Complaint Tracking System

• Cal/EPA-wide Data Dictionary• Communication Strategy • Enforceable Permits • Enforcement Intelligence • Enforcement Program Operational Plan• Environmental Data Exchange • GIS Contracts • Regional/Cross-media Training Program • Single Complaint Tracking System

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What is “Skip Tracing?”What is “Skip Tracing?”

• Obtaining & documenting all pertinent information needed to fully identify, locate, & contact persons and evidence related to your investigation

• This is an overview- additional resources are available

• Obtaining & documenting all pertinent information needed to fully identify, locate, & contact persons and evidence related to your investigation

• This is an overview- additional resources are available

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Document, Document, DocumentDocument, Document, Document

• If you fail to write something down and put it in your case file, – “It didn’t happen,” or, – “It doesn’t exist.”

• Do it now– Same day or next day– Hand written notes are better than nothing

• If you fail to write something down and put it in your case file, – “It didn’t happen,” or, – “It doesn’t exist.”

• Do it now– Same day or next day– Hand written notes are better than nothing

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Hop, Skip and a JumpHop, Skip and a Jump

• May or may not involve actual “skipping” or “hiding” from investigators – “Stonewalling” is more likely– Piercing the corporate veil

• Skip tracing isn’t hard to do (usually)– We all do some form of skip tracing– There are many “tricks” (shortcuts)

• May or may not involve actual “skipping” or “hiding” from investigators – “Stonewalling” is more likely– Piercing the corporate veil

• Skip tracing isn’t hard to do (usually)– We all do some form of skip tracing– There are many “tricks” (shortcuts)

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Western States ProjectWestern States Project

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Why do Skip Tracing?Why do Skip Tracing?

Skip tracing is a basic skill you need to:

• Properly conduct an investigation

• Fully document enforcement cases

• Find and punish bad guys

• Clean up the environment

• Help deter future violations

Skip tracing is a basic skill you need to:

• Properly conduct an investigation

• Fully document enforcement cases

• Find and punish bad guys

• Clean up the environment

• Help deter future violations

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What do we trace?What do we trace?

• People– Violator– Witnesses

• Owners & Operators• Employees• Complainants & affected community

• Companies

• Equipment

• Documents and other evidence

• People– Violator– Witnesses

• Owners & Operators• Employees• Complainants & affected community

• Companies

• Equipment

• Documents and other evidence88

Getting StartedGetting Started

• Start a file! • Gather as much information as possible • List all identifying information on hand:

– Name– Date of birth (DOB) or approx. age– Drivers license or Social Security numbers– Description (scars and tattoos)– Address, phone, employer, etc.

• Ask yourself: “Who regulates these folks?”

• Start a file! • Gather as much information as possible • List all identifying information on hand:

– Name– Date of birth (DOB) or approx. age– Drivers license or Social Security numbers– Description (scars and tattoos)– Address, phone, employer, etc.

• Ask yourself: “Who regulates these folks?” 99

Where do we get information?Where do we get information?

• Investigation & case development– Witness statements– Other evidence

• In-house files and databases

• Sister agencies and professional contacts

• Other government sources (DMV)

• Internet

• Pay services

• Investigation & case development– Witness statements– Other evidence

• In-house files and databases

• Sister agencies and professional contacts

• Other government sources (DMV)

• Internet

• Pay services 1010

Traceable ItemsTraceable Items

• Permits & other records

• Vehicles

• Utilities (telephone service)

• Mailbox rentals

• Credit accounts (loans & charge cards)

• Real estate

• Court & criminal records

• Permits & other records

• Vehicles

• Utilities (telephone service)

• Mailbox rentals

• Credit accounts (loans & charge cards)

• Real estate

• Court & criminal records

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Helpful Cal/EPA DocumentsHelpful Cal/EPA Documents

• List of Information Resources for Case Development– Streamlined version– WSP list is more comprehensive

• Environmental Skip Tracing Checklist– Helps busy investigators stay on track– Standardizes case files– Streamlines case review

• List of Information Resources for Case Development– Streamlined version– WSP list is more comprehensive

• Environmental Skip Tracing Checklist– Helps busy investigators stay on track– Standardizes case files– Streamlines case review

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Finding the Hard-to-FindFinding the Hard-to-Find

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This is where it

starts to get “fun”

Database ResourcesDatabase Resources

• The Western States Project: “R@IN”– Available to all member organizations– Secure login required– http://www.regionalassociations.org/

• US EPA: “OTIS”– http://www.epa.gov/idea/otis/index.html– “ECHO,” public version:

http://www.epa.gov/echo/

• The Western States Project: “R@IN”– Available to all member organizations– Secure login required– http://www.regionalassociations.org/

• US EPA: “OTIS”– http://www.epa.gov/idea/otis/index.html– “ECHO,” public version:

http://www.epa.gov/echo/

Licenses & CertificatesLicenses & Certificates

• Permits & registrations– Contractors State Licensing Board– Business license– Department of Motor Vehicles

• Training certifications• Trade associations• Union or club memberships• Special programs by suppliers, wholesalers,

or manufacturers

• Permits & registrations– Contractors State Licensing Board– Business license– Department of Motor Vehicles

• Training certifications• Trade associations• Union or club memberships• Special programs by suppliers, wholesalers,

or manufacturers1515

Other RegulatorsOther Regulators

• The usual suspects (agencies)– Can they flag recent changes to their files?– Change of address information?– Any ongoing investigations?

• Environmental Crimes Task Force

• Franchise Tax Board

• Employment Development Department

• Department of Industrial Relations

• The usual suspects (agencies)– Can they flag recent changes to their files?– Change of address information?– Any ongoing investigations?

• Environmental Crimes Task Force

• Franchise Tax Board

• Employment Development Department

• Department of Industrial Relations1616

Department of Motor VehiclesDepartment of Motor Vehicles

• Trace both vehicles and people– Restricted: Must have an account– Rules apply

• Change of address may have been filed

• Information on other vehicles (assets)

• Trace both vehicles and people– Restricted: Must have an account– Rules apply

• Change of address may have been filed

• Information on other vehicles (assets)

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Corporate RecordsCorporate Records

• Secretary of State– Officers– Designated contact for service of legal notices– Get a certified copy (a fee applies)– Political contributions

• Regulatory filings, plans, etc.

• Check the company website

• Secretary of State– Officers– Designated contact for service of legal notices– Get a certified copy (a fee applies)– Political contributions

• Regulatory filings, plans, etc.

• Check the company website

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Financial RecordsFinancial Records

Generally, these are paid services

• Dunn & Bradstreet (for companies)

• Credit Bureaus

• Rental Associations

• Many other options

Generally, these are paid services

• Dunn & Bradstreet (for companies)

• Credit Bureaus

• Rental Associations

• Many other options

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Court & Criminal RecordsCourt & Criminal Records

• Judgments

• Divorces

• Name changes

• Bankruptcy Court

• California Law Enforcement Tracking System (CLETS)– Arrest records– Restricted: Law enforcement only (Peace Officers)

• Judgments

• Divorces

• Name changes

• Bankruptcy Court

• California Law Enforcement Tracking System (CLETS)– Arrest records– Restricted: Law enforcement only (Peace Officers)

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Phone BookPhone Book

• White & yellow pages– Business offices– Other branches or franchises– Competitors

• Internet phone listings– Wider coverage (national)– Reverse directories– Examples of multi-search sites

• “The Ultimates” www.theultimates.com• “Skipease” www.skipease.com

• White & yellow pages– Business offices– Other branches or franchises– Competitors

• Internet phone listings– Wider coverage (national)– Reverse directories– Examples of multi-search sites

• “The Ultimates” www.theultimates.com• “Skipease” www.skipease.com

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Directory AssistanceDirectory Assistance

• Good place to uncover recent changes

• Required to give information for 3 names– Helps with common names like John Smith – Required to provide listed address

• Always ask for an address– Whether you need it or not– Otherwise, you'll just hear "Hold for the

number please . . .”

• Good place to uncover recent changes

• Required to give information for 3 names– Helps with common names like John Smith – Required to provide listed address

• Always ask for an address– Whether you need it or not– Otherwise, you'll just hear "Hold for the

number please . . .”

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Directory Assistance (continued)Directory Assistance (continued)

• Get similar surnames – Relatives?

• Get neighbors & associates

• Call them!– Be nice– The Colombo approach

• Get similar surnames – Relatives?

• Get neighbors & associates

• Call them!– Be nice– The Colombo approach

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US Postal ServiceUS Postal Service

Send a letter to the subject’s last known address marked:

“DO NOT FORWARDADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED”

Letter returns with a sticker showing the forwarding address on file with the USPS

Risk of “tipping your hand” if the addressee gets the letter (be sure they’ve really moved)

Send a letter to the subject’s last known address marked:

“DO NOT FORWARDADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED”

Letter returns with a sticker showing the forwarding address on file with the USPS

Risk of “tipping your hand” if the addressee gets the letter (be sure they’ve really moved)

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