PI Skills and Competencies 4

Question 1

Which technique is most effective for confirming a subject's identity before beginning surveillance?

Accepted Answer

Cross-reference a current photo with DMV records, social media, and prior reports

Answer

Cross-referencing multiple sources minimizes the risk of surveilling the wrong person, which can create serious legal liability.

Question 2

When conducting an asset search, which source is considered most reliable for locating real property ownership?

Accepted Answer

County assessor or recorder of deeds records

Answer

County assessor and recorder of deeds offices maintain official, publicly accessible records of real property ownership.

Question 3

A PI conducting a background investigation discovers a sealed juvenile record. The PI should:

Accepted Answer

Disregard the record entirely as sealed records cannot be legally accessed or disclosed

Answer

Sealed records are legally inaccessible and their contents cannot be disclosed without a court order overriding the seal.

Question 4

Which element distinguishes a thorough intelligence report from a simple activity log?

Accepted Answer

Synthesizing collected data to provide context, analysis, and actionable conclusions

Answer

Intelligence reports add value by analyzing raw data to produce contextual insights, rather than just listing observations.

Question 5

A subject is known to use multiple aliases. What is the best initial step to identify all associated records?

Accepted Answer

Run all known aliases and name variations through database searches simultaneously

Answer

Searching all aliases and name variants simultaneously ensures comprehensive coverage of records that may be filed under different identifiers.

(PI) Certified Private Investigator Practice Test