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Monday, August 04, 2008

When curiosity trumps propriety

I found an interesting new website this morning via the New York Times (in the Technology section). It's called Criminal Searches', and it allows you to do exactly that. For free!

Now, I'm all for the right to privacy and such... but as my kids get closer to dating age, it's nice to know that, with a click of a mouse, I can do a quick little background check (at least in the U.S.) on just about anyone.

Oh, and I'll save you the trouble... I have a clean record. But go on ahead... I know there's someone's dirt you're just dying to play in.

Posted by David Bogner on August 4, 2008 | Permalink

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There is a david bogner with a criminal record. But he happens to be 6'1" 185lbs...don't think it's you :)

Posted by: Ed | Aug 4, 2008 4:53:02 PM

I have a criminal record that I'm quite proud of, for illegally occupying and wilfully trespassing on a bulldozer. Badge of honour if you ask me.

Posted by: asher | Aug 4, 2008 5:02:08 PM

In fact if you click on my name, you should see the event.

Posted by: asher | Aug 4, 2008 5:04:13 PM

Interesting website and interesting article in the New York Times.
btw, here in Florida there is a magazine that publishes the mugshots of people that were booked in a Palm Beach county jail, but why pay for the magazine when the Palm Beach Post has a link to the most recent mugshots right at the top of the home page.

Posted by: David S. | Aug 4, 2008 8:54:39 PM

Neat tool, but it's incomplete. Several of my former customers aren't listed, including one for manslaughter and another for Lewd and Lascivious on a child.

Posted by: Karl Newman | Aug 4, 2008 10:50:30 PM

I shared another article on my newsreader this morning. There are severe flaws with this database, and they even admit to these but aren't planning improvement soon. "WitchHunt2.0 - taking the blah out of your boredom!"

I hear Israelis are going to get full service biometrics, soon?

Posted by: a. | Aug 4, 2008 11:23:30 PM

I plugged in my husband's name and found he's wanted for violent crimes in six states. What do I do now? :)

Posted by: Baila | Aug 5, 2008 12:39:41 AM

Ed... Could have been me 20 years ago. :-)

asher ... Oy, a Rachel Corrie wannabee in our midst.

David S.... That only gives you the most recent ones... and it isn't user friendly. This is loke googling.

Karl Newman... Yeah, I checked a few of my old high school buddies who I'm sure went astray of the law, and came up empty. I guess that's why it's a beta version.

a. ... If I was doing a background check on an employee I wouldn't trust it. But if my daughter came home from a trip to the US and started dropping a particular name at the diner table... you can bet Ill plug it into the database. :-)

Baila... That all depends on the crimes. ;-)

Posted by: treppenwitz | Aug 5, 2008 12:47:59 AM

Strange when I tried (had to put in my husband's name of course)it came up with two speeding tickets and missed court dates in Virginia - that's quite strange because neither him nor I knew anything about this. Not very accurate - soooo, how do we really know you have a clean record, hmmm?

Posted by: jaime | Aug 5, 2008 5:38:17 AM

Actually I was protesting highway 6!

Does bother me though that you said "but as my kids get closer to dating age". Should (are in fact??) juvenile convictions be listed? Methinks not.

Was it Mae West (probably wasn't, I just threw that in) who said "I like a man with convictions, all depends what for"?

Posted by: asher | Aug 5, 2008 8:41:56 AM

The one serious conviction that a man should have is that nothing is to be taken too seriously.
Nicholas Butler
(1862 - 1947)

http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/32857.html


“A man‘s conviction is stronger than a flame or a bullet or a rock."

http://www.enotes.com/night-thoreau/q-and-a/what-page-number-did-this-quote-come-from-help-man-14447


Posted by: asher | Aug 5, 2008 10:32:30 AM

"Any man/boy dating my daughter is a suspect!["But"]...No BUTS!"

A more appropriate quote. :-)

Posted by: Rami | Aug 5, 2008 1:35:44 PM

"Any man/boy dating my daughter is a suspect!...["But"]...No BUTS!"

A more appropriate quote. :-)

Posted by: Rami | Aug 5, 2008 1:38:10 PM

I've added it to my favourites. Should come in handy when checking on some of my more skeevy customers.

Posted by: The Back of the Hill | Aug 5, 2008 10:47:02 PM

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