Using the Web as an Investigation Tool Maureen Cahill University of Georgia Law Library
Just ‘Google’ It What is ‘the hidden Web’?
Basic Search Strategies Pinpoint the need Summon what you already know Line up and assess resources Hammer out questions/approaches
Investigate What? Where people live or work Other Information about Them Public Companies Basic Facts
When Can You Rely on the Free Web? When do You Need an Expert or a Fee Based Service?
Free Web, people Finding people, especially prominent folks or professionals Property ownership Professional licensing News
Free Web, companies Public company financial information Executive profiles Regulatory actions News
Free Web, facts Basic reference—dictionaries, encyclopedias Stock quotes Specialized calculators Research aids
Expert or Fee, people Folks who don’t want to be found Criminal background checks Litigation history
Expert or Fee, companies Privately held companies Detailed financial or business analysis and predictions Litigation history
Expert or fee, facts If you get stumped, call your favorite librarian
Sources for Investigations of People Public Information Phone books, other directories Public Records Property filings, court dockets, licensing, registrations News and other Information Sources
Phone Books Many sites aggregate this information Published numbers only Some have , reverse lookup Can search nation-wide, by state, or by locality If unsure of spelling for name, use first four letters of last, first letter only of first name If know zip code, always use it
Specialized Directories Professional groups Inmate locators Death records
Public Records Sources Secretaries of State State agencies Courts: federal, state, and local Jails Tax assessor’s
Georgia Public Records Secretary of State Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority Department of Corrections Variety of county, local sites
Secretary of State Corporation Index Campaign contribution disclosure Professional licenses Voter registration
Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority Lien index Real estate deed index UCC index
Directories of Public Records Sites BRB Publications Search Systems
Georgia Counties Online Tax assessors Bibb, Cobb, Dekalb, Richmond all offer some access to court dockets Several others offer inmate lists
News and Other Services News alerts Profiles Business executives Notables Zoominfo.com
Search Services Caution is required ! Many sell no more than searches of freely available sites Using a large, national service probably means you are paying staff at three levels Public Record Retriever Network
Fee Based Sites Accurint – inexpensive, not the most comprehensive Choicepoint – reasonably comprehensive, expensive KnowX – owned by Choicepoint, but aimed more to consumers
Court Documents PACER 11 th Cir., Middle Bankruptcy, So. Dist., So. Bankruptcy U.S. Party/Case Index Legal Dockets Online Court Express Court Link
Criminal Histories National Criminal File State Crime Indexes No substitute for county by county in person searching
Privacy Concerns Availability and Permissible Uses Fair Credit Reporting Act Drivers Privacy Protection Act Gramm-Leach-Bliley Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Company Information Company’s Web site Profile Services Business News SEC Regulatory Agencies Court Documents
Privately Held Companies Few Sources Court Documents Regulatory Agencies Competitors