National
Council of Investigation & Security Services
Position Statement
Acquisition and Use of Telephone Records
NCISS
is opposed to obtaining telephone or
cellular phone records through the use of
pretext or by any other method which is
unlawful.
NCISS
is further opposed to the sale or other dissemination of
these records to the general public for any reason, by
any method.
NCISS
is adamantly opposed to the sale or dissemination of
these, or any other private records over the internet to
anyone who has not been fully vetted and verified and
who can not clearly articulate a permissible purpose for
obtaining such records and stand accountable for their
lawful and ethical use.
NCISS
supports the creation of legislation that would
establish severe civil and criminal penalties for the
unlawful acquisition or dissemination of both cellular
and land line telephone records.
However, it should be recognized that there are
significant public benefits to permitting licensed
private investigators to utilize such records for lawful
purposes.
Historically, the lawful, legitimate acquisition and use
of telephone records - both cellular and land line -
have proven to be an invaluable and cost effective asset
in the processing of many types of investigations.
Investigators from both the public and private sectors
have used phone records as a tool to assist in
investigating allegations of ID theft, fraud, abuse,
parental and stranger abductions, to trace connections
in drug transactions and follow stolen goods, to locate
witnesses, runaways and debtors, as well as an aid in
collecting judgments and for many other critical
purposes. The legitimate and lawful use of phone records
as an investigative tool provides the investigator with
a cost effective, accurate and expedient method of
confirming or denying critical thinking in many areas,
and offers a focus for further investigative methods.
For these reasons, NCISS supports the commercial
provision of these records to licensed, fully vetted
investigators who establish permissible purpose and are
held accountable for the lawful and ethical use of such
records.
About the NCISS
The National Council of Investigation and Security
Services (NCISS) is the nation’s largest association for
investigation and security services companies, with more
than 1100 member firms
representing nearly 15,000 investigators and security
services professionals. NCISS encourages the exchange of
information and best practices to improve performance
and raise ethical standards. Founded in 1975, NCISS
works closely with state investigation associations and
other security organizations to advocate and sustain the
activities of investigators and security service
professionals. For more information, please visit
www.nciss.org. or telephone
1-800-445-8408.
