Site Map - Investigations

08/08/2011 - A verdict is passed in the trial of the New Orleans police officers accused of shooting civilians after Katrina. Authorities make the second largest drug bust in South Carolina's history. Commercial use of aerial drones. And more.

07/27/2011 - Scientists who sequence the DNA of pathogens have adopted guidelines to limit the opportunities for criminals to get access to such research.

07/22/2011 - This updated edition of Effective Interviewing and Interrogation Techniques demonstrates that conducting effective interviews is an art form as well as a science.  

06/10/2011 - The second of seven jihadist arrested in North Carolina submits a guilty plea. Congress looks at problems with Customs and Border Protection corruption and internal investigations. Prescription drug abuse examined. And more.

06/08/2011 - Gunshot residue is a critical investigative tool, but it needs to be interpreted correctly by forensic investigators.

03/29/2011 - Experts question inconsistencies in U.S. anticorruption law and the new methods being used to conduct investigations.

02/28/2011 - Schools are not doing a good job of screening employees to avoid hiring those with records of sexual abuse of children (.pdf), says a report from the Government Accountability Office.

01/18/2011 - A Boston city councilor has filed an ordinance to require city business-license seekers who interact with the public to submit to fingerprinting and a national background check to ensure they are not violent criminals.

12/16/2010 - Private Security and the Investigative Process is an eclectic mix of resources for the security novice that feels dated.

10/26/2010 - A bill (H.B. 275) pending in the Massachusetts General Court would require that employers conduct criminal history checks on employees who work as security staff in bars, clubs, or other establishments that serve alcohol. In the bill “security staff” is defined as bouncers, doormen, floor staff, or other workers performing duties related to the admission of patrons or maintaining safety and order. The background check should focus on “violent criminal history or other incidents that are strictly related to the duties of the position,” according to the bill.

10/26/2010 - A new Illinois law (formerly H.B. 4658) makes it illegal for employers in the state to conduct credit checks on applicants for most jobs. Though employers may still conduct background checks, they may not inquire about an applicant’s credit history or obtain a copy of their credit report.

09/28/2010 - A new report by the FBI's inspector general finds that numerous FBI agents and supervisors cheated on a terrorism exam.

07/28/2010 - The House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit held a hearing to consider H.R. 3149 (.pdf), which would amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to prohibit a current or prospective employer from using credit reports to make employment decisions such as hiring, firing, or promotion. Witnesses who spoke in support of the rights of employers to use such reports argued that the information is not used in a vacuum but is among the many tools companies use to make good hiring decisions. Opponents contended that credit scores are often inaccurate and have not been conclusively linked to inappropriate workplace behaviors, such as theft.