Topic: Law
You know, the world is a dangerous place. Yes indeed, all you have to do is turn on the local news and see stories of murders, rapes, beatings, robberies, domestic violence, child abuse, etc. How do you know if the neighborhood you live in is safe or even if that guy next door is wanted by the police. Well, online fortunately you can find out a great deal of information about someone and about lots of someone's. Obviously, if you are a lawyer, policeman, judge or NSA official you can just query the computer attached to Lexis Nexis or Westlaw or the equivalent for the police. Put in a name and a few details and there you have it, the complete life history of someone. For the rest of you there is Google and there is Yahoo and A9 to consider. The problem with that is that many of the information sites will not index through the search engines. Newspapers and the like only provide a limited ability to search through their records - unless you pay the fee. Likewise many of the more useful sites which claim to be able to provide you with the low down on that person you are wondering about also charge a fee. All well and good if you are thinking of a particular person. Feel free to pay the fee if you want but most of those sites are bogus. And some of them use purloined information. So take that with a grain of salt.
However, you can check on the neighborhood you live in by searching for your local police department. They often have lists of sexual predators information available. Check on sex offenders I've seen those lists linked to Google Maps to include address and pictures. You can see how many houses down the closest child molester lives. I've seen lists and maps of where the meth lab houses were found. If you'd like to do a bit more research you could go to Corrections Connection here to begin research through the various prison systems. Often times they have lists not only of who is in prison but also of who was in prison. Just the thing if you want to dig up some dirt on someone. This process will be lengthy and many of the states don't really allow you to peruse those records but some do.
You can also watch America's Most Wanted, if it's still on somewhere. or alternately you can watch episodes of Cops to see if you recognize anyone. The FBI still puts out a Top Ten list (not just David Letterman) and I understand there's a no good rotten polygamist on it now. There's also 'Cheaters' which you can only hope to find someone you know and there's also Maury's show where many criminal types are known to sport their gap toothed smiles to the cameras. You could be inventive and make someone a criminal by making some crap up and using your connections to get them put in jail. That only works if perhaps your dad is a lawyer and you have no conscience or soul.
Of course, if you are one of those people who is wanted by the police then you live in fear every day. Every police car that goes by gives you a start and every knock on the door could be your time being up. Heck, I've been a few car lengths behind cars that crash into each other for no other reason than that the drivers have seen a police car. And I doubt those folks were dangerous criminals but I bet those folks thought the police were going to catch them for going too fast. Personally I'm at peace as I happen to see a police car or motorcycle on the side of the road or even coming up behind me. No heart palpitations, no sudden braking. It's amazing what driving the speed limit and not being wanted by the police can do for your heart rate. Of course, if I suddenly see some East German police rolling up beside me I might get a little concerned. I've never been picked up for that incident in West Berlin when I threw some marbles at a East German guard tower, way back when I was eleven or so. Does that answer you question 72-226-147-249.twcny.res.rr.com ?
Posted by gilbert davis
at 1:47 AM EDT