Skin Deep

Have you ever prejudged somebody because of his appearance? I’m ashamed to admit it, but I’m sometimes guilty of it. I can’t help but be suspicious of people who dress or look 'differently'.

Before I confess my sins, I would like to make it clear that I’m strongly against discrimination. It’s not right to tag people as criminals just because they belong to a specific race or class.

I had a very embarrassing experience a few years ago. I have a friend who lives in a not-so-reputable portion of our city. I’m always uncomfortable whenever he’s in my room for fear that he might steal something. I was seriously considering a criminal record search done on him, but I had no money back then.

When things get lost inside my room, my mind automatically points to him. However, I’m always proven wrong since my sister turned out to be the real culprit in all those cases. I know, that was really shameful of me. And believe it or not, we remain friends to this day.

Cloaking the Parent in You

Do you know the Camdens? They’re that cool, but not so cool family in the hit TV series “7th Heaven”. Many are wondering why the show has lasted this long. Cheesy family programs, especially those involving religion, usually have a very short shelf life.

I think one of the reasons why it is still a hit even among the teens is that the show doesn’t always depict the Camden family members as having halos on their heads. The Camden children are always running into trouble, and sometimes associate themselves with persons that have questionable character.

The head of the family, who is also a pastor by the way, is both permissive and overly protective. He would sometimes spy on their friends, albeit discreetly, to see if they’re a blessing or a headache. He’s a cool dad even though he gives sermons on the pulpit.

It’s not unusual for parents to conduct background checks on the friends of their children for possible criminal records, especially if their kids are spending a considerable portion of their time outside the house. If you’re planning to sleuth on the peers of your child, be sure to do this discreetly. After all, spying on them would be “uncool”.

Jumping to Conclusions

I got a good laugh a few years ago when I came across a joke where a person said that John Doe is the most wanted man in America. When asked why, he said that his name appeared in almost every criminal record in the country.

Of course, John Doe isn’t exactly a person (my sincerest apologies to those who really bear the name). The name is usually given to a person whose identity is not conclusively known. Indeed, John Doe would really be the most dreaded man in the nation if he does exist and is actually the very person referred to in thousands of criminal records.

Be careful when you’re conducting a criminal record search on your own. It is highly possible that you’ll be encountering records that match the name of the person you’re investigating. However, be careful in jumping to conclusions. There are many persons bearing similar names. Check out his other personal circumstances first and see if it matches with those indicated in the record that you’ve found.

Lending Your Trust

I sometimes wonder how lending company CEOs could go on running their business without biting their nails everyday at the prospect of being conned. I mean, who would ever risk lending money to a person that he or she has only known for a few minutes.

I’ve let only a very few and select friends borrow money from me. The fact that I don’t have a fat bank account makes me think about 9 to 10 times before giving in to a loan request. While I don’t hire a private investigator to check on my friend’s trustworthiness, I do pry a little bit on his financial background or history before giving him the nod.

Every lender would agree that loaning money to somebody who is running from the law would end up running away with it. If you’re in the business (or habit) of letting people borrow money from you, make it a point to conduct a criminal record search on them first before trusting them to come back for payment.

D-I-Y Criminal Checking

Searching for criminal records is not just a task that investigators and other experts can only do. Ordinary persons like us could embark on such an undertaking without having to wear a badge. It’s not exactly NYPD stuff, so don’t think that you have to obtain a degree in Criminology before you could successfully check the background of a suspected felon.

There are many databases in each county or state that could help you take a closer look at the character of the person you want to know or are already dealing with. Some even have Web sites where you could log on to for the information that you want.

Don’t get too excited on your search though. There are some databases that are exclusively reserved for law enforcers only. The available resources for ordinary persons like us might not be as extensive. However, a keen eye and a persistent and persevering attitude usually yield good results just the same.

An Apple a Day...

I used to laugh at the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. I remember telling my mom that my burger is just as good as the apple in keeping me away from the hospital.

I ended up eating apples and the words that I’ve said to my mom a few months later. I got a nasty fever after playing football in the rain and going home without changing my dripping clothes. My illness wasn’t that serious enough to merit me a few days of vacation at the hospital nearby. However, the person that my burger was supposed to repel became a frequent visitor in our house for about a week.

I’ve learned that preventive measures are important and should not be taken lightly. Rummaging through criminal records is also a preventive measure for people who are dealing with someone they don’t really know. Cures are definitely more expensive and bothersome than preventive remedies. Don't you think so?

Shelling Before Getting Shelled

I have always been told by my parents that safety should come first, regardless of the costs. It’s not they are paranoid about everything. People who are meticulous about their safety are just being reasonable. I mean, spending $20 for a criminal record search on your laundrywoman is definitely a bargain compared to the $2,000 in hospital bills that you might incur if it turns out that she has a penchant for washing blood-soaked clothes.

Having a serial killer for a laundrywoman really does seem far-fetched. Such a script would probably even be junked as an early-morning re-run or alternative for the Crime and Suspense channel. Statistics might even dissuade you from taking my advices seriously.

But statistics do play cruel jokes sometimes, and I certainly do not want to be at the end of those. I’m not saying that you should go through your entire list of friends and run a criminal record search on each of them (but you could :). My advice is simply not to disregard a criminal record search option no matter how angelic your house helper looks like.

Dissecting Criminal Records

When somebody says your neighbor has a criminal record, chills come down your spine don't they? Your immediate thought is that he has chopped body parts in the freezer or is a serial child molester.

Although this can be true, it can also be that his criminal record is a simple DUI (driving under the influence). But that's it isn't it? Are you ok with NOT knowing if people around you have or don't have a criminal record?

So long as your only purpose is to put your own fears to rest, then by all means conduct a criminal check on people around you. One cannot be too careful nowadays...