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
An agent receives conflicting information from two separate confidential informants. What is the BEST next step?
Answer: Conduct independent verification of both accounts through objective evidence
Conflicting informant accounts must be resolved through independent, objective evidence rather than relying on informant credibility alone.
What is the primary legal requirement before an agent can intercept electronic communications in a federal investigation?
Answer: A court order (Title III order) based on probable cause showing necessity
Federal wiretapping requires a Title III court order establishing probable cause that the interception will yield evidence of a specified offense.
When writing a final investigative report, which writing principle is MOST important for legal and administrative purposes?
Answer: Stating facts clearly and objectively, separating observations from conclusions
Investigative reports must objectively separate factual observations from analytical conclusions to withstand legal scrutiny and maintain credibility.
A field agent must manage multiple active cases simultaneously. Which strategy is MOST effective for preventing case neglect?
Answer: Use a case tracking system with deadlines and regular status reviews for each case
A structured case tracking system with deadlines ensures all cases receive timely attention and prevents statute of limitations or evidentiary issues.
During a field interview, a subject invokes their right to counsel. What must the agent do immediately?
Answer: Cease all questioning and not reinitiate interrogation without counsel present
Upon invocation of the right to counsel, all questioning must stop immediately and cannot resume without counsel present, per Edwards v. Arizona.
What is 'trash cover' as an investigative technique and what legal consideration applies to it in the US?
Answer: Retrieval and examination of discarded trash placed for public collection; generally no warrant required
Under California v. Greenwood, trash left for public collection has no reasonable expectation of privacy, so agents may retrieve and examine it without a warrant.
An agent discovers that a colleague improperly documented evidence in a case they are now jointly working. What is the correct response?
Answer: Report the documentation issue through proper supervisory channels and document the discovery
Improper evidence documentation must be reported through supervisory channels to protect case integrity and prevent future legal challenges to the evidence.