Investigative Techniques & Case Management Flashcards
7 cards from real CFA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Investigative Techniques & Case Management flashcards as text
A field agent discovers a witness is reluctant to provide information due to fear of retaliation. What is the BEST initial approach?
Answer: Explain available witness protection resources and build rapport first
Building rapport and informing reluctant witnesses of protection resources is the most effective way to obtain voluntary, reliable cooperation.
During a field investigation, an agent encounters documents that may be relevant but are in a foreign language. What should the agent do?
Answer: Seize and document them, then arrange for certified translation
Agents should seize and properly document foreign-language evidence, then obtain certified translation to maintain chain of custody and admissibility.
Which case management principle ensures that investigative leads are followed up in the most productive order?
Answer: Lead prioritization based on probative value and time sensitivity
Effective case management requires prioritizing leads by their potential evidentiary value and urgency to maximize investigative efficiency.
An agent conducting surveillance observes a subject meeting with an unknown individual. What is the MOST important information to document?
Answer: Time, location, descriptions of all parties, vehicle information, and observed activities
Comprehensive surveillance logs must capture time, location, physical descriptions, vehicles, and all observable activities to support later analysis.
What is the primary purpose of maintaining a detailed case chronology?
Answer: To establish a timeline that identifies patterns, gaps, and causal relationships in the investigation
A case chronology helps agents identify investigative patterns, uncover gaps in the evidence, and establish causal relationships between events.
A field agent learns that a key informant has a prior criminal history. How should this affect handling of the informant's information?
Answer: Corroborate the informant's information through independent evidence before relying on it
Informants with criminal histories require additional corroboration of their information through independent sources to ensure reliability.
When an investigation transitions from an initial inquiry to a full investigation, what case management step is MOST critical?
Answer: Establishing a formal case file with a numbered identifier and chain of custody procedures
Opening a formal, numbered case file with chain of custody procedures ensures evidence integrity and accountability throughout the full investigation.