CIPT Exam Review Questions with Correct
Answers
Identify the criminal investigator's function in the investigative, judicial, and post-
judicial punishment.
o Investigative: conduct investigation using all appropriate techniques and prepare report
with results of investigation
o Judicial: "sell" case to AUSA, present evidence, testify to Grand Jury, and possibly draft
report of legal action
o Post judicial: asset forfeiture process
Identify the elements of case management.
o Knowledge, organized and complete case file, and legally obtained and secured evidence
Identify the major goals of a criminal investigation and the steps required to achieve
those goals
o Main goal is to solve crime by proving or disproving allegations. Must conduct
investigations safely.
o Steps are:
1. Case initiation
2. Assessment of allegation/Information
3. Development of allegation/information
4. Conduct investigation safely (Motive Opportunity Means (MOM))
5. Prepare investigative summary/reports
6. Formal referral to AUSA
7. Process suspects through judicial process
,8. Process criminal/civil asset forfeitures
9. Close the investigation
Identify interpersonal and communication skills required to generate rapport and
obtain reliable information.
Interpersonal communication skills include exchanging information and feelings, having a
good self-concept is helpful.
-Rapport is built by fostering trust and respect, often through reciprocity.
-Active listening guidelines include remaining neutral, not interrupting, and paraphrasing
Identify interview planning considerations.
o Officer Safety is #1
o Determine objectives
o 3rd party considerations
o Background of interviewee
o Physical environment
o Interview victims, witnesses, and then suspects when possible
Demonstrate and/or identify the principal components of "Psychological First Aid"
techniques and the communication skills necessary for building effective relationships
with victims and witnesses.
You/we/I approach: "You" stage seeks to build rapport and address basic needs, "we" stage
stresses that the interviewer and interviewer both need something from each other (we need
to work together), and the I stage moves to the interviewer's more direct questions/needs
Differentiate how victims' rights and services are mandated by law.
,o Victims' Rights and Restitution Act of 1990- services mandated to crime victims
o Crime Victims' Rights Act of 2004: victims' rights once Federal charges begin
Identify the law enforcement interview process.
o Introduction, Rapport, questions, summary, and close
Demonstrate and/or identify the procedures when conducting interviews with one or
two law enforcement officers to include note taking.
o Primary interviewer established control at the beginning and briefs secondary beforehand.
The secondary interviewer takes notes, may ask follow-up questions, and summarizes
interview at the end. Notes should be taken and/or recorded as soon as possible following the
interview.
Demonstrate and/or identify recommended questioning techniques.
o Open ended questions are better than closed-ended.
- Encouraging the interviewee to recall or recreate incidents.
- T.E.D. = "tell, explain, describe."
- Avoid closed ended questions, leading questions, compound questions, complex questions,
and "polite speak"
Demonstrate and/or identify principles of nonverbal communication.
o Proxemics - use of personal space, Haptics - psychology of touch, Environment
Demonstrate and/or identify verbal indicators of truth and deception
o Quantity of details, reproduction of conversation, latency, unprompted self-correction,
chronological order, unusual detail, and number of self-references are indicators.
, o Investigators need be mindful of confirmation bias, belief preservation, and "investigator
bias"
Demonstrate and/or identify planning considerations for a suspect interview.
o Custodial vs. non-custodial based on situation. Electronic recording is encouraged when
permitted, practical, and in accordance with DHS guidelines. Research case, evidence, and
subject info before interview.
Demonstrate and/or identify the suspect interview method.
o Transition to Strategic Use of evidence (SUE) after building rapport. Summarize the
interview and close.
Recognize the various documents that are acceptable for U.S. Citizens and Foreign
Nationals to present to officials as proof of identity.
o I-551 Permanent Resident Alien Card - good for 10 years
o I-766 Employment authorization/Visa for non-immigrants
Identify the security features found in most common types of identity documents and
the techniques used to detect alteration and counterfeiting of security devices.
o Holograms that appear with backlighting or oblique lighting are used to protect photo.
o Optically variable ink (OVI) looks different under certain angles
Recognize common methods for altering and counterfeiting identity documents.
Common alterations include handwritten additions, erasure, cut & paste, and trace over.
Photo substitute is when the photo is replaced on an ID, the hologram may not transfer, or the
original photo may be visible with backlighting
Define human trafficking, including Federal legislation
Answers
Identify the criminal investigator's function in the investigative, judicial, and post-
judicial punishment.
o Investigative: conduct investigation using all appropriate techniques and prepare report
with results of investigation
o Judicial: "sell" case to AUSA, present evidence, testify to Grand Jury, and possibly draft
report of legal action
o Post judicial: asset forfeiture process
Identify the elements of case management.
o Knowledge, organized and complete case file, and legally obtained and secured evidence
Identify the major goals of a criminal investigation and the steps required to achieve
those goals
o Main goal is to solve crime by proving or disproving allegations. Must conduct
investigations safely.
o Steps are:
1. Case initiation
2. Assessment of allegation/Information
3. Development of allegation/information
4. Conduct investigation safely (Motive Opportunity Means (MOM))
5. Prepare investigative summary/reports
6. Formal referral to AUSA
7. Process suspects through judicial process
,8. Process criminal/civil asset forfeitures
9. Close the investigation
Identify interpersonal and communication skills required to generate rapport and
obtain reliable information.
Interpersonal communication skills include exchanging information and feelings, having a
good self-concept is helpful.
-Rapport is built by fostering trust and respect, often through reciprocity.
-Active listening guidelines include remaining neutral, not interrupting, and paraphrasing
Identify interview planning considerations.
o Officer Safety is #1
o Determine objectives
o 3rd party considerations
o Background of interviewee
o Physical environment
o Interview victims, witnesses, and then suspects when possible
Demonstrate and/or identify the principal components of "Psychological First Aid"
techniques and the communication skills necessary for building effective relationships
with victims and witnesses.
You/we/I approach: "You" stage seeks to build rapport and address basic needs, "we" stage
stresses that the interviewer and interviewer both need something from each other (we need
to work together), and the I stage moves to the interviewer's more direct questions/needs
Differentiate how victims' rights and services are mandated by law.
,o Victims' Rights and Restitution Act of 1990- services mandated to crime victims
o Crime Victims' Rights Act of 2004: victims' rights once Federal charges begin
Identify the law enforcement interview process.
o Introduction, Rapport, questions, summary, and close
Demonstrate and/or identify the procedures when conducting interviews with one or
two law enforcement officers to include note taking.
o Primary interviewer established control at the beginning and briefs secondary beforehand.
The secondary interviewer takes notes, may ask follow-up questions, and summarizes
interview at the end. Notes should be taken and/or recorded as soon as possible following the
interview.
Demonstrate and/or identify recommended questioning techniques.
o Open ended questions are better than closed-ended.
- Encouraging the interviewee to recall or recreate incidents.
- T.E.D. = "tell, explain, describe."
- Avoid closed ended questions, leading questions, compound questions, complex questions,
and "polite speak"
Demonstrate and/or identify principles of nonverbal communication.
o Proxemics - use of personal space, Haptics - psychology of touch, Environment
Demonstrate and/or identify verbal indicators of truth and deception
o Quantity of details, reproduction of conversation, latency, unprompted self-correction,
chronological order, unusual detail, and number of self-references are indicators.
, o Investigators need be mindful of confirmation bias, belief preservation, and "investigator
bias"
Demonstrate and/or identify planning considerations for a suspect interview.
o Custodial vs. non-custodial based on situation. Electronic recording is encouraged when
permitted, practical, and in accordance with DHS guidelines. Research case, evidence, and
subject info before interview.
Demonstrate and/or identify the suspect interview method.
o Transition to Strategic Use of evidence (SUE) after building rapport. Summarize the
interview and close.
Recognize the various documents that are acceptable for U.S. Citizens and Foreign
Nationals to present to officials as proof of identity.
o I-551 Permanent Resident Alien Card - good for 10 years
o I-766 Employment authorization/Visa for non-immigrants
Identify the security features found in most common types of identity documents and
the techniques used to detect alteration and counterfeiting of security devices.
o Holograms that appear with backlighting or oblique lighting are used to protect photo.
o Optically variable ink (OVI) looks different under certain angles
Recognize common methods for altering and counterfeiting identity documents.
Common alterations include handwritten additions, erasure, cut & paste, and trace over.
Photo substitute is when the photo is replaced on an ID, the hologram may not transfer, or the
original photo may be visible with backlighting
Define human trafficking, including Federal legislation
