Which of the following describes External Agency Referrals?

Which of the following describes External Agency Referrals?

• A. One agency refers information to another agency.
• B. They stay within the same agency.
• C. They require court orders.
• D. They are initiated by private citizens.

Answer: (A)

External Agency Referrals happen when one agency forwards information to another agency to support a case or investigation. This cross‑agency sharing is the key idea, which is why describing it as one agency referring information to another agency fits best. It isn’t about staying inside the same agency—that would be an internal referral. Requiring a court order isn’t what defines an external referral, since such sharing can occur with or without a court order depending on policy and the situation. And while private citizens can provide information that leads to referrals, the phrase emphasizes the transfer of information between agencies, not who initiates it.

External Agency Referrals happen when one agency forwards information to another agency to support a case or investigation. This cross‑agency sharing is the key idea, which is why describing it as one agency referring information to another agency fits best. It isn’t about staying inside the same agency—that would be an internal referral. Requiring a court order isn’t what defines an external referral, since such sharing can occur with or without a court order depending on policy and the situation. And while private citizens can provide information that leads to referrals, the phrase emphasizes the transfer of information between agencies, not who initiates it.