July 17, 2009

Jeffrey K. Gailey

What do you do when you need to find someone? As a private investigator, I am frequently asked the best way to go about finding someone. It seems that everyone gets to thinking about the past at some point and wonders about old friends and past romances. Sometimes family members drift apart. Sometimes they need to be found in the first place. In this era of instant communication, it seems that it should be easy to immediately reconnect. There are numerous online services that purport to provide the average consumer with the tools to make these connections. Many of these offer the same information under different product names which often consist of, at best, easily obtainable public records and, at worst, warmed-over mailing lists and old phone directories. Occasionally, this can be what the consumer is looking for, as these records contain information that was at one time accurate. Yet, more often than not, they result in frustration and buyer's remorse. The reason for this is simple: databases can only do so much. Without a skilled investigator reviewing the data, many connections simply cannot be made.

In addition to the experience brought to the table, a licensed investigator has access to more powerful databases, and has the knowledge and experience to make them work. The truth of the matter is these databases are only a starting point that a good investigator can use to find the right path, and from there, it often takes good old fashioned leg work to finish the job. However, there are restrictions to what investigators can provide - licensed investigators will not provide this information to just anyone without a legitimate purpose. In the course of an investigation to locate a witness for a civil or criminal case, the investigator would have the means and justification to access a great deal of resources and ultimately provide the attorney with the location of a subject. However, when locating someone for a private party, it is up to the investigator to implement safeguards to protect the public.

In the case of the lost friend or old flame, contact information for the subject simply cannot be handed out without the subject's approval. In many conversations with prospective clients, this has been a major stumbling block. I can understand the reason behind the trepidation - wondering how the person will react to being contacted by a third party. The good news is that, in our experience, most people respond positively to contact from old friends. I suppose its good for the ego.

It never hurts to try and breathe new life into an old relationship. You never know where it can lead you. A licensed private investigator is the best option for finding that person you lost touch with and, using technology and experience, reconnecting you with the past.