What is the purpose of a proactive investigation?

A proactive investigation focuses on preventing crime before it occurs, particularly in the context of human trafficking. The primary goal is to identify potential trafficking situations and intervene before victims are exploited. This approach involves various strategies such as intelligence gathering, community engagement, and collaboration with other agencies to anticipate and disrupt trafficking operations.

By intervening early, investigators can help protect at-risk individuals and disrupt offenders' plans, thereby contributing to a larger goal of eradicating human trafficking. This proactive stance emphasizes the importance of prevention, which is a critical aspect of addressing trafficking comprehensively.

The other options, while relevant to the broader discussion of investigations, do not capture the essence of proactive investigations. Documenting past incidents or collecting data mainly focus on awareness and understanding of already occurred events. Establishing crime prevention programs, although important, does not specifically target the immediate disruption of trafficking before victims are harmed. Thus, the primary intent and impact of a proactive investigation align closely with stopping trafficking before it occurs, making this the correct choice.