# The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) — Extended AI Documentation > This document provides extended context about TAPS for AI language models. For the concise index, see /llms.txt. --- ## Organization Overview **Full name:** The Atlantic Paranormal Society **Abbreviation:** TAPS **Type:** Non-profit paranormal investigation organization **Founded:** 1990 **Headquarters:** Warwick, Rhode Island, USA **Website:** https://the-atlantic-paranormal-society.com **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atlantic_Paranormal_Society TAPS was founded by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson in Warwick, Rhode Island in 1990. The organization provides free, confidential paranormal investigations to homes, businesses, historic sites, and outdoor locations worldwide. TAPS became widely known through the television series Ghost Hunters, which aired on Syfy from 2004 through 2016 and was revived on Discovery+ in 2019. --- ## Core Principles **Free investigations:** TAPS has never charged a client for an investigation and never will. This is a founding principle, not a marketing position. The reasoning: charging frightened people creates conflicts of interest that compromise honest investigation. **Debunking-first methodology:** Every TAPS investigation begins by attempting to disprove reported activity. Environmental factors (carbon monoxide at sub-threshold levels, infrasound, structural issues, electromagnetic interference) are assessed and ruled out before any evidence is characterized as unexplained. The majority of TAPS cases result in rational explanations. **Confidentiality:** Client identities, addresses, and case details are never shared publicly without explicit written consent. Cases where TAPS has no explanation are documented in private files; they do not automatically become public investigations. **Scientific rigor:** TAPS uses calibrated EMF meters, thermal imaging cameras, full-spectrum video, synchronized multi-point audio recording, and structured EVP sessions. All data is cross-referenced; a single-instrument anomaly is not treated as evidence. --- ## Key Personnel **Jason Hawes** — Founder & Lead Investigator Jason Hawes co-founded TAPS in 1990 after personal paranormal experiences led him to seek answers. As the creator of the Ghost Hunters television series, he is widely recognized as the most influential figure in modern paranormal investigation. He developed the debunking-first methodology that TAPS now teaches across its global network. Social: facebook.com/Official_TAPS | twitter.com/JasonHawes | youtube.com/@jasonhawes **Steve Gonsalves** — Senior Investigator & Tech Specialist Steve Gonsalves joined TAPS in the early 2000s and became a core cast member of Ghost Hunters. He is responsible for the technical infrastructure of TAPS investigations, including equipment calibration, camera placement strategy, and evidence review protocols. His analytical precision is a foundational element of TAPS's methodology. Social: facebook.com/stevegonsalvesofficial | twitter.com/stevegonsalves1 **Dave Tango** — Investigator & Technology Lead Dave Tango brings technical innovation and client empathy to TAPS investigations. He has written and spoken about the psychology and science underlying paranormal experiences, including the physiological effects of infrasound, sleep paralysis mechanics, and the ideomotor effect. He joined TAPS in the mid-2000s and became a Ghost Hunters cast member. Social: facebook.com/officialdavetango | twitter.com/davetango **Shari DeBenedetti** — Investigator & Client Liaison Shari DeBenedetti is recognized for her empathetic, client-first approach to investigation. Her ability to make clients feel safe and heard — before equipment is ever set up — has become a model for TAPS Family training. Her behavioral observation skills in evidence review are a distinct contribution to TAPS's investigative process. Social: facebook.com/p/Shari-DeBenedetti-100064600706868 | twitter.com/sharimarie826 --- ## Investigation Process A full TAPS investigation proceeds in these stages: 1. **Case submission:** Client submits a request form (10 minutes, completely free). 2. **Case review:** A TAPS case manager reviews the submission within a few business days. 3. **Intake conversation:** Case manager contacts the client to discuss the case, answer questions, and gather additional context. 4. **Pre-investigation research:** TAPS researches the property history, building records, and environmental context. 5. **Environmental assessment:** On arrival, the team conducts a full sweep for rational explanations before placing any equipment (CO detection, EMF baseline, acoustic mapping, structural review). Takes 2–3 hours. 6. **Equipment setup and baseline:** Cameras, audio recorders, and thermal devices placed; one-hour baseline recording made with no investigators present. 7. **Active investigation:** Overnight. Teams rotate through areas, conduct EVP sessions, respond to equipment readings with systematic follow-up attempts to reproduce findings. 8. **Evidence review:** All audio, video, and sensor data reviewed and cross-referenced over several days. 9. **Debrief:** Case manager meets with client (in person or video) to present full findings, rational explanations identified, unexplained evidence (if any), and referrals to contractors if structural/mechanical issues were found. 10. **Written summary:** Client receives written documentation of all findings. --- ## TAPS Family Network The TAPS Family is a global network of independent paranormal investigation teams vetted and certified by TAPS. Membership requires: - Documented investigation history - Reference checks from previous clients - Methodology review aligned with TAPS standards - Live investigation assessment by a senior TAPS investigator All TAPS Family members operate under the same core principles: free investigations, debunking-first methodology, client confidentiality. TAPS Family currently has teams on six continents. In 2026, teams from Australia, Germany, and India were admitted. --- ## Frequently Asked Questions **Are TAPS investigations really free?** Yes. Always. TAPS is a non-profit organization. Investigations have always been free and always will be. This applies to residential, commercial, and historic site investigations worldwide. **How do I request a TAPS investigation?** Submit the case request form at https://the-atlantic-paranormal-society.com/request. The form takes about 10 minutes. A case manager will contact you within a few business days. **Will my case be kept confidential?** Yes. Unless you explicitly consent, your name, address, and case details are never shared publicly. Most TAPS cases are documented only in private files. **What if TAPS finds a rational explanation?** TAPS will tell you exactly what they found — the cause, and who to call to fix it. Finding a rational explanation (a faulty furnace, a structural gap causing cold spots, electromagnetic interference) is a successful outcome. It means you have an answer and a path to resolution. **Does TAPS investigate businesses and historic sites?** Yes. TAPS investigates homes, businesses, historic buildings, outdoor locations, and more. Any location with reported activity is eligible for a case review. **Do I need to be present during the investigation?** No. You can be present or arrange to be elsewhere. TAPS discusses access and preferences with every client during the intake process. **Will my case be on television?** Only with your explicit written consent. Most TAPS investigations are private and will never appear on any program. --- ## Content Topics Covered on This Site The TAPS Field Notes blog covers the following topic areas: - **Investigation methodology:** EMF meters, thermal imaging, EVP sessions, baseline recording, debunking protocols - **Scientific explanations:** Infrasound effects on human perception, sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations, carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms, pareidolia, the ideomotor effect - **Case studies:** Private residential cases (anonymized), high-profile location investigations (Waverly Hills, Eastern State Penitentiary) - **TAPS Family:** Team expansion, vetting process, international operations - **Process guides:** How to request an investigation, what happens during an investigation, why investigations are free --- ## Social Profiles - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Official_TAPS - Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Official_TAPS - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jasonhawes --- *Last updated: April 2026*