Posts Tagged ‘court’
The 2011 OC Grand Jury; “There’s An App For That”
Yes, You Can Still Apply To The Orange County Grand Jury…But Time Is Running Out.
The Orange County Grand Jury is made up of ordinary citizens who decide on important matters within our local government.
Have you ever wanted to decide on important matters here in Orange County?
Are you an honest citizen who is at least 18 years old?
Been a resident in the County of Orange for at least 1 year?
Well then, you should hurry up and send in your application to the OC Grand Jury selection committee! Even though there’s not an Apple iPhone or iPad App Store application that streamlines the process, you can still apply via the web, or in person if you’re really old school.
Here’s What The OC Register Has To Say About The Job:
“Grand Jurors review and evaluate county and city agencies, schools, and special districts within Orange County. Prior grand juries have focused on issues such as the condition and management of Orange County jails, planning for statewide water shortages, and the child abuse index.”
“The grand jury also weighs and considers issuing criminal indictments after evidence is presented by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.”
“A grand juror must be 18 years of age or older, a United States citizen, and an Orange County resident for at least one year. Before being nominated, each qualifying applicant is interviewed by a panel of Superior Court judges. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department conducts background investigations of nominees.”
Article Credit – OC Register Journalist Andrew Galvin
Here’s where you can apply:
Web: http://www.ocgrandjury.org
In Person: Jury Commissioner’s Office at 700 W Civic Center Dr Santa Ana, CA 92701
Deadline: Applications need to be received by January 14th 2011.
Browse some landmark cases & reports from the OC Grand Jury:
DNA: Orange County Crime Lab or District Attorney’s Office?
The State of the Orange County Jails
Orange County Disciplinary Procedures For Elected Officials
Oversight for Orange County Law Enforcement Agencies
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Ryan Garrahy is a state licensed private investigator specializing in surveillance, background checks, locating individuals and workplace investigations. He is the owner & principal investigator for Orange Investigations.
Ethics Vary Among Private Eyes; Research Before Hiring
A recent article in the Orange County Register caught my attention, it described an elaborate amount of criminal charges on an individual who allegedly defrauded clients while running an unlicensed private investigative business called KMS Investigations. Most of the charges were related to high dollar, white collar crimes. White collar crimes are often sophisticated operations and most need a element of trust to be successful. The most disappointing part of the article was that the unlicensed PI had been accused of running this operation from November of 2005 until June 2010. That’s a long time consumers were at risk. Click here for the OC Register news article. Click here for the Orange County District Attorney press release. The DA asks that anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Anthony Sosnowski at (714) 347-8814.
Do P.I.’s Have Your Best Interests At Hand? Some May Have Their Own Agenda
As a fully licensed Private Investigator in the State of California, I’ve had the unique opportunity to work on many different types of cases. No matter what the case is, it always starts with a phone call for help. Most call out of necessity, they’re at their “wit’s end” and need a professional investigator’s help. Yes, some are very desperate for answers. Usually when people are desperate, they have a greater chance of being taken advantage of. To be honest, I’ve heard some bad stories from time to time; so do some research, ask questions before you hire. I’ve included some helpful tips below if you should ever need to call on the services of a Private Investigator. Also, take a look at these two articles “What To Expect When Hiring a Private Investigator” (Orange County PI Blog) and “Ethics for Private Investigators” (Compass Point PI)
1. Find out if the P.I. is licensed to do business in your state
Private Investigators in just about every state need to be properly licensed. Yes, there are a few states that do not require an individual to be licensed while performing investigative work, but thankfully most do. For instance, a quick Google search for “Private Investigator Licensing Board California” will bring up the the website link for the Bureau of Security & Investigative Services. You can verify the status of any California PI’s license online, anytime. Most other states have the same type of online access available to the general public.
2. Check the Better Business Bureau for complaints
The Better Business Bureau keeps records of consumer initiated complaints. The BBB assigns a “letter grade” rating from A to F dependent on the amount of complaints and how the business has responded to address those specific complaints. Checking your local Chamber of Commerce is also recommended. Checking for a city business license may reveal additional information as well.
3. Ask to consult “in-person” with the Investigator
Human intuition and your “gut feeling” can be your greatest asset if you don’t know someone’s reputation. Ask to meet the Investigator “in person” and ask some general questions about the Investigator’s specific experience. Ask if they have handled this type of case before. Ask how much money will be required up front to start the investigation. Also, ask if favorable results can be expected based on the information and circumstances you have provided the detective. Your investigator should be confident, but not too aggressive. Informative, but not pushy. The investigator should be able to give you a realistic evaluation of your case; the good and the bad all in one single consult. The consult should more than likely be free, but ask to make sure.
4. Ask a friend or colleague for a referral
Everyone knows someone who’s in the legal industry, whether it’s an attorney, paralegal, police officer, etc. Ask them if they have ever worked with or know a good PI. Maybe you know a friend who hired a Private Investigator in the past, ask them if the Investigator obtained favorable results, and kept them informed of the progress on the case. Referrals can be a good source, but make sure to do your own due diligence, remember it’s your hard earned money…and PI’s aren’t cheap.
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Ryan Garrahy is a state licensed private investigator in Orange County specializing in surveillance, background checks, locating individuals and workplace investigations. He is the owner & principal investigator for Orange Investigations.
Investigator’s Evidence Can Influence Child Custody Decisions
“Hard Evidence” Can Influence A Court Decision
If you’ve ever been involved in a child custody dispute, then you know how crucial evidence can be in winning your custody battle. Hard evidence can make extreme impacts during custody modification hearings, and can influence the outcome of your percentage of child custody. Often couples see a breakdown in communication before they enter the family court arena. Once that communication turns into attorney-attorney communication it’s pretty much over, and the courts will ultimately be making the decisions on what’s best for your children. Orange County Family Court can be a tough battlefield, and you should have every resource possible on your side when facing your situation head on.
Courts Will Make A Decision Based On What They Are Shown
You can have a much better chance of prevailing in court with actual “hard evidence” in your favor. Private Investigators excel in providing evidence that can literally speak for itself in court. Your attorney may do a great job at representing you, filing your papers with the court and other legal matters, but when it comes to evidence collection and hard facts they leave it in the hands of a qualified California licensed private investigator.
A child custody private investigator in Orange County can find a wide range of “good evidence” resulting in a positive outcome. The other parent may be an alcoholic, a known drug user, heavy into partying, a reckless driver, associates with others who have criminal records, and the list goes on.
Hiring a qualified investigator for surveillance on a child custody matter in its beginning stages can be very beneficial to your case. Remember, your attorney cannot provide you with physical evidence on the other parent’s whereabouts, engagements, and activity level. Attorneys save this “field work” for the investigators. Investigators enjoy working with attorneys and private clients, and their best interest is your best interest.
How A Surveillance Investigation Can Benefit Your Case:
1) Photo/video documenting your child custody exchange can be a great place to start on your specific investigation. The cost of a custody exchange surveillance can be kept to a reasonable level, and it’s a great way to start developing evidence…almost immediately! This involves having the other parent under surveillance before, during and after the child custody exchange. This type of surveillance can document your demeanor, promptness, and safety of the child, which can cast a positive light in your corner when it comes down to custody evaluations. The investigator will also be capturing the actions of the other parent as well, without their knowledge. This can give the family court a candid view of the other party’s “true” behavior.
2) A surveillance investigation can yield actual physical evidence. Suspicious that the other parent may have a drinking problem? Imagine the look on the judge’s face when an investigator produces videotape of the other parent getting drunk at a bar, driving off in their vehicle, displaying willful disregard for the safety of themselves and the general public. Situations like this can be documented during a child custody investigation.
3) Surveillance can be an excellent tool for documenting who the other parent spends their time with. This person may have more than one person they are romantically involved with. This can confuse the child with who they should look up to as a parental figure. Surveillance may show the other parent dating someone involved in a line of work that may not be suitable for the child. The person they are dating may come and go at odd hours which could disrupt the child’s sleep schedule for school. This type of evidence is very important and can help you obtain the type of custody you deserve.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the reasons to hire a private investigator for your child custody case. If you feel this can benefit you, call a qualified child custody investigator and set up an appointment to interview them and determine for yourself if they have what it takes to make the most out of your case.
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About the Author:
Ryan Garrahy is a state licensed private investigator specializing in surveillance, background checks, locating individuals and workplace investigations. He is the owner & principal investigator for Orange Investigations.
