Meeting the Demands for Vital Statistics: The Challenges of Collecting, Preparing, and Promoting Baltimore, MD May 31 st – June 4 th, 2009 Vital Records From Failure to Success: The Importance of Modernizing Office Policies and Procedures

Meeting the Demands for Vital Statistics: The Challenges of Collecting, Preparing, and Promoting Baltimore, MD May 31 st – June 4 th, 2009 Michigan Vital Records History Vital Record Search and Issuance Procedures Birth Death Matching Progression to Efficient Production Standards

Meeting the Demands for Vital Statistics: The Challenges of Collecting, Preparing, and Promoting Baltimore, MD May 31 st – June 4 th, 2009 Vital Record Search and Issuance Procedures Recording Request for Birth Certificate 1980’s: issue date on back of birth record No system to record request for death record Eligibility Requirements 1978: statutes changed to specify eligibility Proof of identification not required Manual matching of deaths to births Prone to errors Takes too much time and resources

Meeting the Demands for Vital Statistics: The Challenges of Collecting, Preparing, and Promoting Baltimore, MD May 31 st – June 4 th, 2009 Birth Death Matching Deaths matched to births for anyone under 45 Disadvantages to manual matching time consuming prone to error information erratic from other states

Meeting the Demands for Vital Statistics: The Challenges of Collecting, Preparing, and Promoting Baltimore, MD May 31 st – June 4 th, 2009 Progression to Efficient Production Standards 1988: Electronic filing Hospital filing Changes of birth information Filing of delayed records 2003: Electronic Order System Permanently retains applicant information Tagging of birth records with death info 2004: Internal policy changes eligibility standards Presentation of picture identification Policies specifying eligibility

Meeting the Demands for Vital Statistics: The Challenges of Collecting, Preparing, and Promoting Baltimore, MD May 31 st – June 4 th, 2009 Jonn Slapp - Bradford Storti Case 1996: Jonn Slapp birth record requested Date stamp verified was issued Key information not retained-tracking system No applicant history to determine eligibility No eligibility requirements were verified 1997: Social Security Administration Verification request: issued social security number No tracking record of results

Meeting the Demands for Vital Statistics: The Challenges of Collecting, Preparing, and Promoting Baltimore, MD May 31 st – June 4 th, 2009 Jonn Slapp – Bradford Storti Case 08/29/2005: Online app for Slapp record Applicant: Bradford Storti, personal records Address in Oregon Application denied, money refunded Letter sent to applicant explaining eligibility statute 01/23/2006: Online app for Slapp record Applicant: Jonn Slapp, for personal reasons Address in Oregon Passed eligibility standards Sent to be processed

Meeting the Demands for Vital Statistics: The Challenges of Collecting, Preparing, and Promoting Baltimore, MD May 31 st – June 4 th, 2009 Jonn Slapp – Bradford Storti Case Deceased tag in BRS, sent to fraud unit Verified child born in 1972, died six months later Record notations: 1996 issuance, 1997 SSA verification Matched with 2005 request in new tracking system Obtained security questions from VitalChek.com Online research – prior arrest and pedophile label Sent report to Attorney General’s office Applicant Notification: insufficient ID, pending status

Meeting the Demands for Vital Statistics: The Challenges of Collecting, Preparing, and Promoting Baltimore, MD May 31 st – June 4 th, 2009 Online Research for Attorney General Report Task force hunt/capture/conviction Moved from Michigan to Oregon to evade arrest Evidence he had assumed another identity Primary person of interest in internet crimes Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator Specified type of crime Incarceration and release date Aliases known to have used National Sex Offender Public Registry Aliases and image

Meeting the Demands for Vital Statistics: The Challenges of Collecting, Preparing, and Promoting Baltimore, MD May 31 st – June 4 th, 2009 Jonn Slapp – Bradford Storti Case 08/18/2006: Mailed app for Jonn Slapp record Applicant is Slapp, for business reasons Address in Michigan Tagged as fraud case, submitted to fraud unit Matched request with two prior applications Sent letter to customer for copies of identification Received expired Oregon driver license, SSN Card, Credit Cards with Slapp name

Meeting the Demands for Vital Statistics: The Challenges of Collecting, Preparing, and Promoting Baltimore, MD May 31 st – June 4 th, 2009 Jonn Slapp – Bradford Storti Case Sent supplemental report to AG office Provided residence information to police Arranged telephone conference 09/15/2006: Arrest in Iron Mountain, Michigan Able to locate and apprehend Identification and credit cards confiscated in home and used at trial

Meeting the Demands for Vital Statistics: The Challenges of Collecting, Preparing, and Promoting Baltimore, MD May 31 st – June 4 th, 2009 Reports to Attorney General Initial notification of possible fraud MCL violations: requesting record of deceased child Designated active fraud case in Vital Records office Supplemental letter to Attorney General Second and third applicant request Applicant maintaining is person on the record Additional online research on applicant Attorney General collaberated with Michigan State Police to locate and apprehend

Meeting the Demands for Vital Statistics: The Challenges of Collecting, Preparing, and Promoting Baltimore, MD May 31 st – June 4 th, 2009 Arrest and Trial 10/18/2006: Trial in Lansing, Michigan Evidence presented Vital Records documentation of requests Copies of identifications obtained fraudulently Result: pled guilty to using internet for committing a crime, possession of child sexually abusive material, distributing/promoting Back in Federal Prison 1 count of uttering/publishing:14 year sentence 1 count identity theft: 5 year sentence

Meeting the Demands for Vital Statistics: The Challenges of Collecting, Preparing, and Promoting Baltimore, MD May 31 st – June 4 th, 2009 Improvements That Facilitated Change Permanent Retention of Applicant Documentation Ability to tag records as fraud Alert capabilities for county offices Adherence to Proof of Identification Electronic Birth / Death Matching