NTN Police Legal Knowledge and Criminal Law Flashcards

A 'Terry stop' (stop and frisk) requires an officer to have at minimum:

Answer: Reasonable suspicion of criminal activity

Terry v. Ohio (1968) held that a brief investigatory stop requires only reasonable, articulable suspicion that criminal activity is afoot.

Which offense is typically classified as a felony rather than a misdemeanor?

Answer: Aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury

Aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury is generally classified as a felony due to the severity of harm and intent involved.

What is the legal standard for use of force under Graham v. Connor?

Answer: Objective reasonableness from the perspective of a reasonable officer

Graham v. Connor established that use-of-force claims are analyzed under the Fourth Amendment's objective reasonableness standard, judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene.

The crime of 'burglary' traditionally requires which key element?

Answer: Unlawful entry into a structure with intent to commit a crime inside

Burglary is defined by the unlawful entry (or remaining) in a structure with the intent to commit a crime therein, regardless of property value or time of day.

An officer who arrests someone without legal justification may be liable for:

Answer: False arrest / false imprisonment

An unlawful arrest constitutes false arrest (and false imprisonment), exposing the officer and municipality to civil liability.

Which of the following best describes 'exigent circumstances' as a warrant exception?

Answer: Emergency situations such as hot pursuit, imminent destruction of evidence, or threat to life

Exigent circumstances are genuine emergencies—such as hot pursuit of a fleeing felon, risk of evidence destruction, or threat to life—that excuse the warrant requirement.