Fundamentals & Core Concepts 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 Fundamentals & Core Concepts flashcards as text
When an investigator identifies a conflict of interest on a case, the FIRST step should be to:
Answer: Disclose the conflict to the supervisor and allow the organization to determine next steps
Prompt disclosure to a supervisor preserves professional integrity and allows the organization to assess whether recusal or additional oversight is necessary.
The investigative technique of 'canvassing' is BEST described as:
Answer: Interviewing people in the vicinity of an incident to locate witnesses or information
Canvassing involves systematically approaching individuals in an area (neighbors, bystanders, business employees) to identify potential witnesses and gather situational information.
Which of the following BEST defines 'nexus' in the context of an investigation?
Answer: A direct and demonstrable connection between a suspect and the alleged act
Establishing nexus means proving a direct, factual link between the subject and the alleged activity, which is essential for building a legally sound case.
In an investigation involving potential worker's compensation fraud, which combination of evidence types is MOST compelling?
Answer: Surveillance video, medical record discrepancies, and social media activity corroborating inconsistency
Corroborating surveillance footage with medical inconsistencies and social media evidence creates a multi-layered evidentiary foundation that is difficult to refute.
The Privacy Act of 1974 places restrictions on investigative activities by primarily governing:
Answer: Federal agency collection, maintenance, and disclosure of personal information
The Privacy Act of 1974 restricts how federal agencies collect, store, use, and disclose personally identifiable information about individuals.
When an investigator is about to conduct a covert investigation, the client authorization document MUST include:
Answer: Clear scope, boundaries, and explicit authorization for the specific investigative methods to be used
Client authorization documents must explicitly define the scope and permissible methods to protect both the investigator and client from legal liability.
Which principle requires that an investigative conclusion be supported by the simplest explanation consistent with the known facts?
Answer: Occam's Razor
Occam's Razor holds that among competing explanations, the simplest one that fits all known facts is preferred, guiding investigators to avoid over-complicating their conclusions.