Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of an investigator?

• A. Determine if and what crime was committed
• B. Prosecute the suspect
• C. Locate and protect the crime scene
• D. Gather all information available at this time

Answer: (B)

In criminal investigations, the core task is to gather facts and preserve evidence to understand what happened and whether a crime occurred. The investigator works to locate and protect the crime scene so clues aren’t spoiled, and to collect all information available at the time to build an evidentiary record. Prosecution, on the other hand, is the role of a prosecutor, who decides charges and presents the case in court. That division of labor means the action of prosecuting the suspect falls outside an investigator’s responsibilities.