On Nov. 24, U.S. Investigations Service investigator Tammy Brown will talk with high school students at Lompoc High School, educating them about how decisions they make today can impact their lives into the future. Brown is one of 3,000 investigators working nationwide for USIS, which performs security clearance investigations for the federal government.
Brown has conducted thousands of background investigations for the federal government over the past six years and has gathered her share of stories, some of which reveal unfortunate examples of how people’s lives and careers were harmed by poor decisions made in their youth.
“Kids are so used to teachers telling them what to do. When you have a third party, they seem to be more receptive,” Brown told the Sun in an interview.
“I tell them, ‘I’m not here to reprimand you or to lecture you. I’m just here as a friend to let you know that what you do now can affect you in the future,’” she said.
According to a press release from the USIS, some major discussion points include:
Credit cards can spell more than financial trouble. Young people are already being targeted for credit cards that can lead to long-term debt and financial challenges. Unfortunately, financial issues can also bring into question a person’s integrity when handling money or merchandise on the job or suitability for positions of trust.
Everyone you know today could be approached in the future to talk about your character—with or without your reference! Teachers, counselors, friends, neighbors, family, and employers—these are the people teenagers will need for references in the future. They make a big mistake, however, if they think that only the people specifically listed on an application will be contacted. Omitting a person with potentially negative information won’t protect them. This is especially true if they seek employment with the government, as many sources can be developed independently throughout the investigation.
Drug and alcohol use matters, even if you don’t get caught. If a student doesn’t have an official record of substance abuse, a “record” still exists in the memories of others who see them using alcohol or drugs. If contacted, their recollections could have an equally negative impact on the student’s ability to get the job of his or her choice.
Law enforcement issues turn up in many places. Tickets, arrests, detainments, etc., can be found in police reports and civil records. And not all are erased just because the student is a juvenile.
A privately owned company established in 1996, USIS offers a broad range of background screening and pre-employment services to customers, ranging from the federal government and major retailers to local law enforcement agencies and small businesses.
School Scene is compiled Staff Writer Amy Asman. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Nov 20-27, 2008.