BCOT UPDATED 2026 EXAM SCRIPT QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔what faith groups are listed under the Prisons Religion Practices Guide and
Reference Manual? - ✔✔American Indian,
aquarian christine curch universal,
asatru,
assemblies of yahweh,
buddhism,
christian,
hindu,
Hebrew israelite,
house of yahweh,
islam,
judaism,
messianic judaism,
moorish science temple,
rastafarian,
Wiccan
✔✔where do most civil action lawsuits take place? - ✔✔federal court
✔✔when is an employee allowed defense by the Attorney Generals office? - ✔✔when
an employee has acted in accordance with DPS policy and procedures
✔✔what four cases is REASONABLE FORCE authorized? - ✔✔prevent escape of an
inmate
ensure compliance of a lawful order
protect property
return an escapee to custody
✔✔what two cases are used as measure to determine the appropriate use of force by a
correctional officer? - ✔✔Wilkins vs. Gaddy
Whitley vs. Albers
✔✔Define "Deadly Force" - ✔✔the degree of force, which would tend to result in death
or serious bodily injury
✔✔explain the circumstances when it is necessary to file a Use of Force Report and an
Incident Report - ✔✔any time it is necessary to compel an inmate to do something by
using any amount of force (hands, chemical agent, baton)
✔✔what form is attached to the Use of Force Report by all witnesses? - ✔✔DC-138B
,✔✔What also must be completed after any Use of Force Report? - ✔✔Medical
Screening
✔✔what condition must exist if you are searching for an inmate who crosses state
lines? - ✔✔you must be in "hot pursuit"
the inmate must be a felon
misdemeanant who is an immediate risk to life
✔✔define "hot pursuit" - ✔✔you must have the inmate in sight or be on a hot trail
✔✔what is the state policy on reprisals? - ✔✔no reprisals shall be taken against any
inmate or staff member for a no good faith use of or participation in the grievance
procedure
✔✔what is a due process right of an inmate charges with a prison rule infraction under
the disciplinary policy? - ✔✔right to appeal to the Director of Prisons
✔✔what is a valid reason for placing an inmate under Restrictive Housing
Administrative Purposes? - ✔✔remove the inmate from the population as a "cooling off"
method
protect staff and other inmates from threat by the inmate
minimize the risk of escape by the inmate
preserve order where other methods of control have failed
provide necessary control while completing an investigation
✔✔what is the procedure for inspection and distribution of personal mail? - ✔✔incoming
personal mail is opened and inspected for contraband prior to delivery to inmate
✔✔what is the procedure for inspection and distribution of legal mail? - ✔✔legal mail will
be opened in the presence of the inmate and opened by the correctional officer
✔✔define Censorship - ✔✔withholding of mail for reasons related to prison security
✔✔what are the allowed religious practices? - ✔✔bibles, pamphlets, prayer rugs, head
coverings, fasting and other religious practices
✔✔what religious practices are NOT allowed? - ✔✔snakes, poison herbs, spiders, and
other religious materials of this sort
✔✔do inmates have a right to visitation? - ✔✔no, visitation is a privilege and allowed
under reasonable time, place, and manner
✔✔describe a "routine search" - ✔✔a routine search is a pat and frisk search with the
subject clothed
, ✔✔what are correctional officers legally required to do to ensure an inmates right to
medical treatment is protected? - ✔✔whenever an inmate becomes ill or injured, steps
must be take to provide medical services
✔✔what amendment does the inmates "right" to medical care derive from? - ✔✔the 8th
amendment
✔✔what are some incidents where a CO may have to testify? - ✔✔violation of inmates
rights (excessive force)
undue familiarity with inmate (sexual misconduct)
any incident or alleged incident
✔✔what is the first action to take when receiving or releasing a firearm? - ✔✔Clear and
inspect
✔✔what is the primary handgun safety? - ✔✔finger off the trigger and outside the
trigger guard
✔✔when the shotgun is oriented in a normal shooting position, how is the safety turned
to "off" - ✔✔the safety is off when pushed to the left
✔✔if carrying a shotgun, an officer should not allow an inmate to get any closer than -
✔✔20 yards
✔✔if carrying a handgun, an officer should not allow an inmate to get any closer than -
✔✔4 yards
✔✔handgun maximum range is - ✔✔1 mile
✔✔shotgun maximum range is - ✔✔1/3 mile
✔✔what are the three ballistic factors officers must consider before firing a firearm? -
✔✔distance, penetration, ricochet
✔✔what is the Cardinal Safety Rule - ✔✔if there is the slightest risk of hitting an
INNOCENT BYSTANDER, officers must NOT fire even though it means the escape of
an inmate
✔✔what equipment must officers use when on the range? - ✔✔hearing protection and
eye protection
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔what faith groups are listed under the Prisons Religion Practices Guide and
Reference Manual? - ✔✔American Indian,
aquarian christine curch universal,
asatru,
assemblies of yahweh,
buddhism,
christian,
hindu,
Hebrew israelite,
house of yahweh,
islam,
judaism,
messianic judaism,
moorish science temple,
rastafarian,
Wiccan
✔✔where do most civil action lawsuits take place? - ✔✔federal court
✔✔when is an employee allowed defense by the Attorney Generals office? - ✔✔when
an employee has acted in accordance with DPS policy and procedures
✔✔what four cases is REASONABLE FORCE authorized? - ✔✔prevent escape of an
inmate
ensure compliance of a lawful order
protect property
return an escapee to custody
✔✔what two cases are used as measure to determine the appropriate use of force by a
correctional officer? - ✔✔Wilkins vs. Gaddy
Whitley vs. Albers
✔✔Define "Deadly Force" - ✔✔the degree of force, which would tend to result in death
or serious bodily injury
✔✔explain the circumstances when it is necessary to file a Use of Force Report and an
Incident Report - ✔✔any time it is necessary to compel an inmate to do something by
using any amount of force (hands, chemical agent, baton)
✔✔what form is attached to the Use of Force Report by all witnesses? - ✔✔DC-138B
,✔✔What also must be completed after any Use of Force Report? - ✔✔Medical
Screening
✔✔what condition must exist if you are searching for an inmate who crosses state
lines? - ✔✔you must be in "hot pursuit"
the inmate must be a felon
misdemeanant who is an immediate risk to life
✔✔define "hot pursuit" - ✔✔you must have the inmate in sight or be on a hot trail
✔✔what is the state policy on reprisals? - ✔✔no reprisals shall be taken against any
inmate or staff member for a no good faith use of or participation in the grievance
procedure
✔✔what is a due process right of an inmate charges with a prison rule infraction under
the disciplinary policy? - ✔✔right to appeal to the Director of Prisons
✔✔what is a valid reason for placing an inmate under Restrictive Housing
Administrative Purposes? - ✔✔remove the inmate from the population as a "cooling off"
method
protect staff and other inmates from threat by the inmate
minimize the risk of escape by the inmate
preserve order where other methods of control have failed
provide necessary control while completing an investigation
✔✔what is the procedure for inspection and distribution of personal mail? - ✔✔incoming
personal mail is opened and inspected for contraband prior to delivery to inmate
✔✔what is the procedure for inspection and distribution of legal mail? - ✔✔legal mail will
be opened in the presence of the inmate and opened by the correctional officer
✔✔define Censorship - ✔✔withholding of mail for reasons related to prison security
✔✔what are the allowed religious practices? - ✔✔bibles, pamphlets, prayer rugs, head
coverings, fasting and other religious practices
✔✔what religious practices are NOT allowed? - ✔✔snakes, poison herbs, spiders, and
other religious materials of this sort
✔✔do inmates have a right to visitation? - ✔✔no, visitation is a privilege and allowed
under reasonable time, place, and manner
✔✔describe a "routine search" - ✔✔a routine search is a pat and frisk search with the
subject clothed
, ✔✔what are correctional officers legally required to do to ensure an inmates right to
medical treatment is protected? - ✔✔whenever an inmate becomes ill or injured, steps
must be take to provide medical services
✔✔what amendment does the inmates "right" to medical care derive from? - ✔✔the 8th
amendment
✔✔what are some incidents where a CO may have to testify? - ✔✔violation of inmates
rights (excessive force)
undue familiarity with inmate (sexual misconduct)
any incident or alleged incident
✔✔what is the first action to take when receiving or releasing a firearm? - ✔✔Clear and
inspect
✔✔what is the primary handgun safety? - ✔✔finger off the trigger and outside the
trigger guard
✔✔when the shotgun is oriented in a normal shooting position, how is the safety turned
to "off" - ✔✔the safety is off when pushed to the left
✔✔if carrying a shotgun, an officer should not allow an inmate to get any closer than -
✔✔20 yards
✔✔if carrying a handgun, an officer should not allow an inmate to get any closer than -
✔✔4 yards
✔✔handgun maximum range is - ✔✔1 mile
✔✔shotgun maximum range is - ✔✔1/3 mile
✔✔what are the three ballistic factors officers must consider before firing a firearm? -
✔✔distance, penetration, ricochet
✔✔what is the Cardinal Safety Rule - ✔✔if there is the slightest risk of hitting an
INNOCENT BYSTANDER, officers must NOT fire even though it means the escape of
an inmate
✔✔what equipment must officers use when on the range? - ✔✔hearing protection and
eye protection
