Tennessee Private Investigator Licensing Practice Exam

What is the primary focus of skip tracing?

1. The process of tracking down skips

2. Gathering information on businesses

3. Documenting accidents

4. Studying criminal patterns

The correct answer is: The process of tracking down skips

The primary focus of skip tracing is indeed the process of tracking down individuals who have "skipped" or gone missing, often to avoid legal obligations such as debts or court appearances. Skip tracing involves gathering a variety of information from different sources, including public records, databases, and sometimes even personal contacts, to locate the individual in question. This skill is particularly important for private investigators, bounty hunters, and collection agencies who need to find individuals for legal purposes or to recover debts. The other choices relate to distinct areas of investigation that do not revolve around the specific art of locating missing persons or assets. Gathering information on businesses focuses on corporate investigations, while documenting accidents pertains to accident investigation and reporting. Studying criminal patterns relates to crime analysis and criminology, focusing on trends rather than individual tracking. Thus, the correct choice highlights the central task of skip tracing, which is locating people.