A few months ago, I learned that a criminal defense case that I had been working on for a lengthy period of time resulted in all felony charges being dismissed against the defendant. So, what moved the needle? The gut instinct of an experienced criminal defense attorney, a thorough background investigation into the investigating officer, […]
background check
ASSOCIATIONS AND PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS
For the professional private investigator (PI), belonging to several associations is critical to one’s success. At a minimum, it is recommended that an investigator belong to at least three types of associations: state-wide PI association, international PI association, and an association that your clientele belong to. I belong to the following associations. Arizona Association of […]
Arizona Boat Registration Records
Every now and then we get asked if boat registration and ownership information is publicly available in Arizona. These records are critical when conducting asset investigations or civil litigation investigations involving watercraft. The short answer is yes! And if you’re a public records nerd like us, more information can be found in ARS 5-324. Note that […]
County Recorder – Criminal Records Research
When most people hear the words county recorder, they tend to think of property deed information. And while the county recorder does in fact record property deed information, searching the county recorder records can lead to a whole lot more than just property deeds! In many jurisdictions throughout the country, the county recorder also records […]
WHAT 1000 INVESTIGATIONS TAUGHT ME
In January 2023, Mason Investigative Solutions opened its 1000th case. Here are some lessons that Private Investigator Steven Mason learned along the way. Network – An investigator’s network is everything. One must exchange ideas daily with other investigators. Investigators who exist on their own desert island and never network, participate in associations, or are willing […]
Preservation Letters
A version of Private Investigator Steven Mason’s article first appeared in Pursuit Magazine. Disclaimer: The author is not an attorney, and the information contained within this article should not be construed as legal advice. The goal of all private investigations is to locate and collect information and evidence. For private investigators who work on […]
Address Histories
Note: Private Investigator Steven Mason’s article originally appeared at PInow.com. One of the most important pieces of data for an investigator to know about someone who is the subject of inquiry is his or her address history. Franky, it’s difficult to imagine any investigation that can’t benefit from knowledge of the target’s address history. Asset […]
FBI Fingerprint Background Checks 101
In my line of work as a private investigator, I’m often asked to do “FBI nationwide background checks” for private clients, to assure them that their persons of interest do not have any skeletons in their closets. Sadly, this is when I explain that a nationwide background check does not exist, meaning that a […]
Private Investigators Are Vital to Attorneys – Part 2
“I think any case that has any real complexity is going to require a private investigator for something.” – Ellen Henak, Appellate Lawyer. This blog series covers the importance of using private investigators to garner positive outcomes in settlements and trials. To refresh your memory, in Part 1 I discussed in detail how private investigators […]