What is a dossier?

• A. Inquisitorial system
• B. Adversarial system
• C. Civil law system
• D. Common law system

Answer: (A)

A dossier is a single, organized file that collects all documents and information about a person or a case—police reports, witness statements, expert findings, correspondence, evidence, and related notes. It functions as the complete record that investigators and decision-makers refer to as the case develops. In inquisitorial systems, authorities actively gather and review these materials to build the file, and the dossier helps the judge understand the full set of facts. While different legal traditions handle evidence in various ways, the key idea is that a dossier is the consolidated case file, not a system itself.