Sergeant Practice Exam 1 questions and answers
2025\2026 A+ Grade
As a newly appointed sergeant, you observe one of your officers approach a person who she reasonably
suspects to be selling packets of cocaine. The officer begins to question the person and then conducts a
pat-down search of the person's jacket, attempting to locate where the drugs are secreted. As a
supervisor, you should tell the officer that this type of search is
- correct answer Not justifiable because the officer had only reasonable suspicion.
There is a sentencing philosophy that seeks to prevent criminal acts by making an example of persons
convicted of crimes. Choose the theory of punishment that asserts potential offenders will refrain from
committing crimes for fear of punishment
- correct answer Deterrence. Deterrence is split in to two categories - general and specific
When evidence is obtained by the police in violation of a person's constitutional rights, that evidence
may be inadmissible in any subsequent criminal trial against that person for which the evidence was a
key component. This is known as
- correct answer The exclusionary rule
What is needed for a police officer to make a lawful search of a person's premises in the absence of
exigent circumstances?
- correct answer A search warrant
The sentencing philosophy seeking to create an equal or proportionate relationship between the
offense and the punishment is called
- correct answer Just desserts
Which of the following constitutional amendments contains the due process clause?
- correct answer Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments
A sentencing philosophy seeking satisfaction from knowing or seeing that offenders are punished. Also
called vengeance. This philosophy of justice asserts that the punishment should fit the crime and the
, culpability of the offender
- correct answer Retribution
If probable cause exists to search a motor vehicle, then
- correct answer if the vehicle can be readily moved, the entire vehicle can be searched
According to the Supreme Court, the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution protects
- correct answer people
A sentencing philosophy seeking to reintegrate the offender into society is called
- correct answer rehabilitation
Two police officers board a bus during a stop over from another city. They wore badges and insignia, and
one of them was holding a zipper pouch containing a pistol. Although they lacked express reasons for
suspicion, the officers picked out the defendant and asked to inspect his ticket and identification, which
he gave to them. These items were immediately returned to the defendant as unremarkable. However,
the two police officers then explained that they were narcotics agents on the lookout for illegal drugs
and asked the defendant's consent to search his luggage. They specifically advised the defendant that he
had the right to refuse consent. The search uncovered a quantity of cocaine in one of the defendant's
suitcases. The defendant was arrested and charged with trafficking in cocaine. The Supreme Court held
that
- correct answer the actions of the two officers were lawful and no reasonable suspicion was required
because the defendant gave his consent to the search
Which of the following is NOT a recognized exception of the Fourth Amendment search warrant
requirement?
- correct answer Terry type search for drugs
A field interview by a police officer does not involve detention in the constitutional sens so long as the
officer does not deny the individual the right to move. What else is true of this scenario?
- correct answer The person approached may not be detained even momentarily unless the officer has
reasonable objective grounds for detaining the person. If the police officer is not armed with reasonable
suspicion of criminal activity, the person approached need not answer any question put to him or her;
indeed, he or she may decline to listen to the questions at all and leave. When the officer has
reasonable suspicion that a particular person committed a crime, he or she may lawfully stop that
person and detain him or her long enough to dispel or build on the suspicion, but the suspect does not
have to answer any questions put to him or her by the police.
2025\2026 A+ Grade
As a newly appointed sergeant, you observe one of your officers approach a person who she reasonably
suspects to be selling packets of cocaine. The officer begins to question the person and then conducts a
pat-down search of the person's jacket, attempting to locate where the drugs are secreted. As a
supervisor, you should tell the officer that this type of search is
- correct answer Not justifiable because the officer had only reasonable suspicion.
There is a sentencing philosophy that seeks to prevent criminal acts by making an example of persons
convicted of crimes. Choose the theory of punishment that asserts potential offenders will refrain from
committing crimes for fear of punishment
- correct answer Deterrence. Deterrence is split in to two categories - general and specific
When evidence is obtained by the police in violation of a person's constitutional rights, that evidence
may be inadmissible in any subsequent criminal trial against that person for which the evidence was a
key component. This is known as
- correct answer The exclusionary rule
What is needed for a police officer to make a lawful search of a person's premises in the absence of
exigent circumstances?
- correct answer A search warrant
The sentencing philosophy seeking to create an equal or proportionate relationship between the
offense and the punishment is called
- correct answer Just desserts
Which of the following constitutional amendments contains the due process clause?
- correct answer Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments
A sentencing philosophy seeking satisfaction from knowing or seeing that offenders are punished. Also
called vengeance. This philosophy of justice asserts that the punishment should fit the crime and the
, culpability of the offender
- correct answer Retribution
If probable cause exists to search a motor vehicle, then
- correct answer if the vehicle can be readily moved, the entire vehicle can be searched
According to the Supreme Court, the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution protects
- correct answer people
A sentencing philosophy seeking to reintegrate the offender into society is called
- correct answer rehabilitation
Two police officers board a bus during a stop over from another city. They wore badges and insignia, and
one of them was holding a zipper pouch containing a pistol. Although they lacked express reasons for
suspicion, the officers picked out the defendant and asked to inspect his ticket and identification, which
he gave to them. These items were immediately returned to the defendant as unremarkable. However,
the two police officers then explained that they were narcotics agents on the lookout for illegal drugs
and asked the defendant's consent to search his luggage. They specifically advised the defendant that he
had the right to refuse consent. The search uncovered a quantity of cocaine in one of the defendant's
suitcases. The defendant was arrested and charged with trafficking in cocaine. The Supreme Court held
that
- correct answer the actions of the two officers were lawful and no reasonable suspicion was required
because the defendant gave his consent to the search
Which of the following is NOT a recognized exception of the Fourth Amendment search warrant
requirement?
- correct answer Terry type search for drugs
A field interview by a police officer does not involve detention in the constitutional sens so long as the
officer does not deny the individual the right to move. What else is true of this scenario?
- correct answer The person approached may not be detained even momentarily unless the officer has
reasonable objective grounds for detaining the person. If the police officer is not armed with reasonable
suspicion of criminal activity, the person approached need not answer any question put to him or her;
indeed, he or she may decline to listen to the questions at all and leave. When the officer has
reasonable suspicion that a particular person committed a crime, he or she may lawfully stop that
person and detain him or her long enough to dispel or build on the suspicion, but the suspect does not
have to answer any questions put to him or her by the police.
