Professional Standards & Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real CPI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Standards & Ethics flashcards as text
What is the primary ethical concern when an investigator uses pretextual interviews to gather information?
Answer: Deception may violate legal statutes and professional ethical codes depending on jurisdiction and context
While pretexts may sometimes be legally permissible, they raise ethical concerns about deception and may be prohibited under certain state laws or ASIS ethics guidelines.
A CPI subcontracts part of an investigation to another firm. Who bears primary ethical and professional responsibility for the quality and legality of all work product?
Answer: The CPI retains primary professional responsibility for all work performed on the assignment
The contracting CPI remains professionally responsible for the conduct and quality of subcontractors engaged on their behalf.
Which behavior violates the duty of loyalty an investigator owes to a client?
Answer: Simultaneously working for a competitor of the client without disclosure
Working simultaneously for a client's competitor creates a conflict of interest that violates the duty of loyalty unless fully disclosed and consented to.
According to professional standards, how should a CPI handle a situation where a client instructs them to use clearly illegal surveillance methods?
Answer: Refuse the instruction and, if necessary, withdraw from the engagement
Investigators must refuse to engage in illegal conduct regardless of client instruction, and may need to terminate the engagement if the client insists.
An investigator discovers that a prior investigation by another firm produced a report with fabricated evidence. The ethical obligation is to:
Answer: Document the finding and report it to the appropriate professional or legal authority
Investigators have an ethical duty to report known misconduct by other professionals to relevant authorities rather than remaining silent.
Which standard governs how long a CPI should retain case files and evidence after an investigation concludes?
Answer: Retention follows applicable legal requirements, contractual agreements, and professional standards
Evidence and case file retention must comply with applicable statutes of limitations, contractual terms, and professional standards for record keeping.
A CPI is approached by a journalist seeking information from a current investigation. What is the appropriate response?
Answer: Decline to discuss any aspect of the investigation to preserve client confidentiality
Client confidentiality prohibits investigators from confirming or discussing the existence or details of any ongoing investigation with unauthorized third parties.