Which term describes the factors considered in determining whether or not a case should be assigned for follow‑up investigation?

• A. Mentoring
• B. Undercover Investigation
• C. Stakeout
• D. Citizen Police Academies

Answer: (B)

Evaluating whether a case should move to follow‑up is about case screening. This is the process investigators use to weigh criteria and decide if pursuing the case is worthwhile. Key factors typically include the seriousness of the offense, the strength and sufficiency of initial evidence, the existence of viable leads, the likelihood of solving or advancing the case, witness availability, and resource constraints. These elements help determine whether to allocate time and resources to a follow‑up investigation.

The other terms describe activities rather than the evaluative process. Mentoring is about guiding personnel; an undercover investigation is a tactic used to collect evidence by posing as someone else; a stakeout is surveillance of a location or person; Citizen Police Academies are community education programs. So the concept described by the prompt is best captured by case screening.