National Investigators Exam (NIE) Practice Exam 2025 – The Complete All-in-One Guide to Ensure Your Success!

A detective's primary responsibility in an investigation is to gather and analyze evidence. This critical function involves collecting relevant information, interviewing witnesses and suspects, and thoroughly examining physical evidence related to the case. The detective must ensure that all evidence is properly documented and preserved, as it is essential for building a strong case. Analyzing this evidence helps detectives to establish a timeline of events, identify suspects, and connect the dots that form the basis for solving the investigation.

While making arrests can be a part of a detective's role, it is typically a secondary outcome of their primary duty, which focuses on evidence collection and analysis. Representing the prosecution in court is the responsibility of attorneys, not detectives, while providing legal advice to victims falls outside the scope of a detective’s role. Therefore, the emphasis on gathering and analyzing evidence is foundational to the investigative process, making it the central responsibility of detectives in their line of work.