CFA Investigative Techniques & Case Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A field agent discovers a witness is reluctant to provide information due to fear of retaliation. What is the BEST initial approach?
- Obtain their statement immediately before they change their mind
- Explain available witness protection resources and build rapport first (Correct answer)
- Subpoena the witness to compel their testimony
- Document their reluctance and move on to other witnesses
Correct 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.
Question 2: During a field investigation, an agent encounters documents that may be relevant but are in a foreign language. What should the agent do?
- Discard them since they cannot be read
- Seize and document them, then arrange for certified translation (Correct answer)
- Attempt to translate them using a translation app and proceed
- Note their existence but leave them in place
Correct 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.
Question 3: Which case management principle ensures that investigative leads are followed up in the most productive order?
- Alphabetical prioritization
- Lead prioritization based on probative value and time sensitivity (Correct answer)
- First-in, first-out processing
- Random assignment to prevent investigator bias
Correct 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.
Question 4: An agent conducting surveillance observes a subject meeting with an unknown individual. What is the MOST important information to document?
- Only the subject's actions
- Time, location, descriptions of all parties, vehicle information, and observed activities (Correct answer)
- The unknown individual's identity only
- Duration of the meeting only
Correct 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.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of maintaining a detailed case chronology?
- To satisfy administrative reporting requirements only
- To establish a timeline that identifies patterns, gaps, and causal relationships in the investigation (Correct answer)
- To provide a summary for supervisors unfamiliar with the case
- To calculate billable hours for the investigation
Correct 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.
Question 6: A field agent learns that a key informant has a prior criminal history. How should this affect handling of the informant's information?
- Disqualify the informant entirely and seek new sources
- Corroborate the informant's information through independent evidence before relying on it (Correct answer)
- Accept the information but do not use the informant in court
- Increase payment to incentivize more accurate information
Correct 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.
Question 7: When an investigation transitions from an initial inquiry to a full investigation, what case management step is MOST critical?
- Closing the initial inquiry file immediately
- Establishing a formal case file with a numbered identifier and chain of custody procedures (Correct answer)
- Notifying the subject of the investigation
- Transferring all responsibility to a senior agent
Correct 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.
CFA Investigative Techniques & Case Management 2
A field agent discovers a witness is reluctant to provide information due to fear of retaliation.
What is the BEST initial approach?