LAPD Basic Police Terminology 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the legal standard of 'probable cause' in police work?
- A hunch or suspicion based on intuition alone
- Reasonable grounds based on facts and circumstances to believe a crime has been or is being committed (Correct answer)
- Absolute certainty that a crime occurred
- A court order authorizing an arrest
Correct answer: Reasonable grounds based on facts and circumstances to believe a crime has been or is being committed
Probable cause requires articulable facts and circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe a crime occurred.
Question 2: What does 'Miranda rights' require an officer to inform a suspect?
- Their right to a speedy trial before arraignment
- Their right to remain silent and to have an attorney present during questioning (Correct answer)
- Their right to review the police report before booking
- Their right to refuse a field sobriety test
Correct answer: Their right to remain silent and to have an attorney present during questioning
Miranda warnings, required before custodial interrogation, inform suspects of their Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights.
Question 3: What is a 'misdemeanor' as opposed to a 'felony' in California law?
- A crime punishable by more than one year in state prison
- A less serious crime typically punishable by up to one year in county jail (Correct answer)
- Any crime committed by a juvenile
- A crime that results in no jail time
Correct answer: A less serious crime typically punishable by up to one year in county jail
A misdemeanor is a less serious offense with a maximum sentence of up to one year in county jail.
Question 4: In police terminology, what is a 'CI'?
- Critical Incident
- Confidential Informant (Correct answer)
- Crime Index
- Civilian Inspector
Correct answer: Confidential Informant
A Confidential Informant is a person who provides information to law enforcement, typically under an agreement of anonymity.
Question 5: What is 'reasonable suspicion' and how does it differ from probable cause?
- It is equal to probable cause and can justify an arrest
- It is a lower standard based on specific articulable facts justifying a brief investigative stop (Correct answer)
- It is a standard only applicable to vehicle searches
- It refers to a jury's determination of guilt
Correct answer: It is a lower standard based on specific articulable facts justifying a brief investigative stop
Reasonable suspicion is a lower threshold than probable cause, allowing officers to briefly detain someone for investigation.
Question 6: What does 'use of force continuum' guide in police work?
- The number of officers required for each call type
- A framework describing escalating levels of force appropriate to a suspect's resistance (Correct answer)
- The procedure for requesting SWAT assistance
- The policy for conducting vehicle pursuits
Correct answer: A framework describing escalating levels of force appropriate to a suspect's resistance
The use of force continuum outlines the graduated levels of force an officer may apply in response to varying levels of suspect resistance.
Question 7: What is a 'coroner's case' in LAPD terminology?
- Any arrest involving a violent felony
- A death that must be investigated and reported to the Medical Examiner-Coroner (Correct answer)
- A case transferred to a federal agency
- An incident involving a public official
Correct answer: A death that must be investigated and reported to the Medical Examiner-Coroner
A coroner's case involves a death under circumstances requiring investigation by the Medical Examiner-Coroner, such as unattended, suspicious, or violent deaths.
LAPD Basic Police Terminology 3
What is the legal standard of 'probable cause' in police work?