Ask A Licensed Private Investigator, Part 2

Part 2

Q: I recently heard of a database that keeps track of health practitioners who've been convicted of crimes and/or subjected to adverse licensing actions. Do you know how I can gain access to that database?

A: I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that you are correct-there is a database which tracks such information. It's run through the Health and Human Services Division of Quality Insurance. The bad news is that it's only available to hospitals, clinics, surgical centers, and insurers who pay malpractice claims on practitioners' behalf. If you believe you might qualify to use this database, you can get additional information through a help line at (800) 767-6732.

Q: Are you familiar with any type of service that documents legal U.S. immigrants? I heard there's a database available through the Immigration Department that lists each legal U.S. immigrant by date of entry, port of entry, ZIP code destination, and last foreign address. If so, how can I get in touch with them and what procedures must be followed to obtain such information?

A: I'm not familiar with that database. In fact, I'd never heard of it. When I asked the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) office in Los Angeles, they said there was no such legal database available. They said the information that you heard is available would 'never be disclosed to the public due to the Privacy Act.'

I checked further and found that there is a listing of immigrants admitted to the United States as legal permanent residents during the fiscal year. The listing has information on people who either arrived from outside the United States with a valid immigrant visa issued by the State Department or who had petitioned the INS during the year to go from temporary to permanent resident status. The listing gives the alien's port of entry, month/year of admission, countries of chargeability, birth date, last residence address, age, sex, marital status, occupation, nationality, and ZIP code of destination.

This listing, prepared by the DOJ-INS, is stored on magnetic tape. The order number is PB93-505376/CAU. It's available in 9-track EBCD/C character set tape in 1600 bpi, 6250 bpi, or 3480 cartridge. Contact the Department of Commerce National Technical Information Service in Springfield, VA, for price and more information.

This magnetic tape sounds as if it might be the database you heard about. It also sounds as if it holds valuable information. For instance, for an investigator who's working on a vehicle-accident claim that appears to be staged, it could be helpful to know that the drivers of both cars came from the same small village.

Q: An investigator I work with has indicated he has access to a 'CBR' number in connection with telephone records. What is that?

A: The telephone company asks people applying for service for information, including a phone number where they can be reached. For instance, someone requesting new home telephone service might give a work number or a close relative's number. This is the CBR number. This information is supposedly for 'confidential use only,' but many 'confidential sources' have provided the information to skip-tracers.