Investigative Research: Public Records and “Publicly Available” Information
Sue Altmeyer, J.D., M.L.S.Reference Librarian, University of
Akron Law LibraryNov. 5, 2015
What is available?
• Only public records. See ORC 149.43
Excluded: ▪ medical records▪ probation records▪ adoption records▪ confidential law enforcement investigatory records
Ohio Public Records Request
• See ORC 149.43
• Form: http://www.nfoic.org/ohio-sample-foia-request
FOIA Limits• Federal government will not disclose
▪ national defense information▪ personal and medical information▪ ongoing law enforcement investigations
and confidential sources▪ certain geological information▪ information exempt under federal law
See 5 USC 552(b)., (FOIA)
Restrictions on Accessing
• Public records may not be published or readily available – may have to do information request. http://www.foia.gov/how-to.html
Statutes limiting access
• Driver’s Privacy Protection Act,18 USC 2721
• Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 USC 1681 et seq. – applies when obtaining information from a seller of “consumer reports”
Image: 'My Second Driver's License' www.flickr.com/photos/15914631@
N00/3348033929
Social Security No. protection
• Ohio 127th GA SB 6 (R.C. 149.45(B))
• Ohio Superintendence Rules 44-47
• Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004,
Gramm Leach Bliley
• Compiler of records obtains info from credit bureaus or other "financial institutions“
• Only permissible uses
Is “free background check”on the Web possible?
Only to a certain extent. Free materials on-line = discrete
bits of information. Pay databases retrieve information from many sources.
For Fee Databases
• Westlaw & LexisNexis (Accurint, KnowX.com)
• Openonline -minimal set-up fee and annual cost, pay per search.
Other reputable fee services include: Search Systems, NETRonline
Important Tips
• Cross-check results among multiple databases or websites to ensure accuracy.
• Check the coverage of the database.
How far does it go back ? What states or counties are included?
Starting Points and Portals• Comprehensive reports - Lexis, Accurint, Westlaw• Cleveland Law Library’s Public Records FAQ and
People Finder FAQ• Netronline• SearchSystems.net• PublicRecords.com • BRB Publications
Professional Licenses
Attorney Licenses - Ohio• Whether licensed, but not necessarily in good standing, ex. Ohio Supreme Court – Attorney Information Search
•Year licensed
•Disciplinary action
•Business address/phone
Ohio Supreme Court cases -disciplinary cases, 1993-
Attorney Licenses - Nationwide
• ABA National Lawyer Regulatory Databank (Request search in writing)
• ABA Directory of Lawyer Disciplinary Agencies
Other Licenses
• Ohio License Center
• Ohio.gov Professional License Verification
• Professional License Verifier (Links by State)
Ohio Driver’s License Verification
Other Professional License & Discipline
• Cleveland Law Library’s Public Records FAQ has links to information about:
• Doctors• Stock brokers – eg Finra broker check • Accountants
Criminal Records So-called "national" databases
inaccessible to non-governmental users.
Pay databases– LexisNexis, Westlaw, Openonline may not pick up misdemeanors or all arrests. Examine scope of database before pay to search it.
Criminal Records - Arrest
Summit County felony arrest records can be obtained at County Sheriff’s office. Cost = $10.00.
Cuyahoga County - Back to early 1970s. Cost =$6
www.buckeyesheriffs.org for other Sheriff’s offices
Docket Searches
• Do docket search of individual state courts for indictments/convictions.
• PACER – search all federal courts at once - .10 per page
• Low cost PACER alternatives: Justia Federal Court Dockets , Courtport's FreeCourtDockets.com
Dockets, cont’d
• Bloomberg Law searches many state court and all federal court dockets at once.
• Cleveland-Marshall Docket Research Guide
Free Criminal Records Sites
• Full legal name and date of birth will help
http://www.drc.state.oh.us/OffenderSearch/Search.aspx
Notes:This site displays data on those offenders who are currently incarcerated in an Ohio prison, currently under Department supervision, judicially released, or who died of natural causes while incarcerated.
http://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/
Criminal Records – Free Web• Corrections.com – Links to other states’
databases.
• Blackbook – Links to government sites for each state
• Vinelink.com – Info for victims, get notification of release. Searches county jails too.
• Policereports.com – NOT comprehensive and seeing actual reports not free. Tells you where person had possible offenses.
Employee Background Checks
• Employer’s obligations - http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/publications/background_checks_employers.cfm
• Consumer Reporting Agency obligations: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/business-blog/2013/01/background-screening-reports-fcra-just-saying-youre-not
Search Systems - $15
Double check accuracy
• Look at dockets
Sex offender databases
o National Sex Offender Public Registry: Searches multiple state databases
o FBI's State Sex Offender Registries: Links to state databases.
Family Watchdog - Find offenders nationwide by street or offender name.
Other sources for criminal records
• Newspaper search (free databases from public or academic library)
• Google or other search engine
Apps
• JailBase - Arrests + Mugshots• Vine Mobile (mobile version of victim’s
database)• Search Quarry Toolbox (Apple)
Vital Records –Birth/Death
• National Center for Health Statistics
• Ohio Department of Health – order online or go to local office. (NOT free) Birth 1908-, Death 1964-
Death Records
• Social Security Death Index – via familysearch.org
• Online Searchable Death Indexes – links by State
• Sysoon.com – obits, not comprehensive• Library databases – geneology, obituaries
(great way to discover heirs)
Death Records - Ohio
• Ohio Historical Society, Death Certificate Index , some older birth records
• Cleveland Necrology File
• Ohio Obituary Index (1810 – present, mostly older)
Vital Records –Marriage and Divorce
• Court dockets (probate, domestic relations)• Don’t know the county: Abstracts (marriage
1950-, divorce1954-) can be ordered from Ohio Dept of Health
• Copies from the court
Cuyahoga County Marriage & Divorce
• Cuyahoga Probate • Summit Probate
• Divorces in the CP court docket
Assets – Generally
• Pay Databases the easiest, most comprehensive
• Portico: links for real estate (county assessor), aircraft, boats
Real Property
• County Recorders office for deeds (sale price), mortgages and liens
• County Auditor’s office for current property ownership, taxable value and property description.
• County fiscal office has both
Info. About Properties
• Zillow , Realtor.com– Nat’l real estate sales listings. Search by address
• Property Shark.com – Information about properties. Search by address.
Apps – info about a property
• Property Shark• RPR Mobile• Zillow• Foreclosed Home• Been Verified
Summit County Real Estate
County Fiscal Officer
•Property Tax and Appraisal•Recorded Documents
•Sheriff’s Sales
Cuyahoga County Real Estate
• Foreclosure Sales – Cuyahoga county – available foreclosed properties.
• Neo Cando – Property, tax and transfer information for Cuyahoga County.
• Cuyahoga Enterprise Geographic Information System (CEGIS)detailed information on houses and businesses
UCC Filings
• UCC filings – Ohio Secretary of State
• Searchsystems.net for state links.
• UCC Article 9 filings may be with county recorder.
Airplanes, Cars & Boats• Airplanes – FAA Aircraft Inquiry, Portico,
Celebrity Aircraft • Boats - Portico • Ohio Department of Public Safety Online
Vehicle/Watercraft Title Inquiry – Boats, Autos, need VIN no. or title no.
• Autos by person’s name - Lexis, Westlaw, OPENonline , OpenOnline requires you know the person’s SS#
Stocks
• Corporate insiders – officers, directors, >10% shareholders
• SEC Forms 3, 4, 5 and 144 • SEC’s Edgar/IDEA
Unclaimed Funds
• Summit County Fiscal Officer• Ohio Department of Commerce Online
Treasure Hunt (UCF with county go to ODC after 5 years)
• National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators
• Federal Unclaimed Funds – US Treasury