F I N A L E X A M I N AT I O N · 2 0 2 6 – 2 0 2 7 C YC L E
M IC HIGA N C O M M IS S IO N O N L AW E N FO R C E M E N T S TA N D A R D S
Final MCOLES
Exam
Already A+
A+ Verified Comprehensive Licensing Examination
A 165-question final assessment aligned with the Michigan Commission on
Law Enforcement Standards licensing examination blueprint. Coverage
spans Michigan criminal law (MCL 750, 752, 333, 257), constitutional
procedure, patrol and traffic enforcement, use of force standards under
Graham v. Connor, investigations, the Michigan court system, special
populations, and professional ethics — with verified answers, MCL
citations, and A+ rationales.
T O TA L Q U E S T I O N S SE CTIO N S F O R M AT
165 9 MCQ · A–D
Z .A I · L AW E N F O R C E M E N T E D U C AT I O N S E R I E S A + V ER IFIED
,Final MCOLES 2026/2027 Exam — Already A+ Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards
Final MCOLES 2026/2027 Exam — Already A+
A+ Verified Comprehensive Licensing Examination
Total Questions 165
Total Sections 9
Format Multiple Choice (A–D), one correct answer per question
Cognitive Mix ~35% recall, ~45% application, ~20% analysis
Question Style ~75% scenario-based, ~25% direct recall
Coverage MCL 750, 752, 333, 257; US Const. Amends. 4/5/6/8/14; MCOLES standards; Michigan case law
Answer Format Correct answer marked with [CORRECT]; rationale with MCL citations and case law
Section 1: Michigan Criminal Law
MCL Chapters 750, 752, 333, & 257 — Offenses, Elements, Classifications, & Penalties (Q1–Q32)
Q1: Under MCL 750.110a, first-degree home invasion requires that the defendant break and enter a
dwelling with intent to commit a felony therein. Which additional element distinguishes home invasion first
degree from second degree?
A. The defendant was armed with a dangerous weapon at the time of entry
B. At any time while entering, present in, or exiting the dwelling, another person was lawfully present or
expected to be lawfully present [CORRECT]
C. The dwelling was damaged in excess of $1,000 during the commission of the offense
D. The defendant has a prior conviction for breaking and entering within the preceding seven years
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: MCL 750.110a(2) classifies home invasion in the first degree when, at any time while entering, present in, or
exiting a dwelling, another person is lawfully present or expected to be lawfully present. The presence of a person elevates the
offense to first degree (a felony punishable by up to 20 years). A weapon would relate to armed home invasion under MCL
750.110a(4), property damage threshold is not an element, and prior-record enhancement is governed by separate sentencing
provisions, not the substantive element of the offense.
Q2: An officer responds to a retail store where a suspect has concealed merchandise valued at $350 and
passed all points of sale. Under MCL 750.356d and People v. Slaughter, what is the proper charge?
A. First-degree retail fraud (MCL 750.356c), a felony
B. Second-degree retail fraud (MCL 750.356d(2)), a misdemeanor [CORRECT]
C. Third-degree retail fraud (MCL 750.356d(4)), a misdemeanor
D. Larceny in a building (MCL 750.360), a felony
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: MCL 750.356d(2) provides that second-degree retail fraud applies when the value of the merchandise involved is
$200 or more but less than $1,000, and it is a one-year misdemeanor. People v. Slaughter, 489 Mich 302 (2011) held that
retail fraud requires the prosecution to prove the defendant intended to defraud the store. Third degree applies only when
value is less than $200. First degree requires value of $1,000 or more. Larceny in a building does not apply to retail fraud
Z.ai · Law Enforcement Education Series Page 1
,Final MCOLES 2026/2027 Exam — Already A+ Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards
contexts because the retail fraud statute is the more specific statute.
Q3: Under MCL 750.520e, CSC in the fourth degree requires a finding that the defendant engaged in
sexual contact with another person and that:
A. The victim was under 13 years of age
B. The defendant used force or coercion to accomplish the contact
C. The defendant knew or should have known that the victim was mentally incapable, mentally
incapacitated, or physically helpless, or the force/coercion element is met [CORRECT]
D. The contact occurred in the course of committing another felony
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: MCL 750.520e defines fourth-degree CSC as sexual contact involving force or coercion OR where the defendant
knew or should have known that the victim was mentally incapable, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.
Fourth-degree CSC is a two-year high-court misdemeanor. Options A and B describe first-degree CSC elements under MCL
750.520b. Option D is not a statutory element of any CSC degree.
Q4: Which of the following accurately states the mens rea required for Uttering and Publishing under
MCL 750.249?
A. Knowledge that the instrument was false with intent to defraud, accompanied by the act of publishing or
offering the instrument [CORRECT]
B. Reckless disregard for the truthfulness of the instrument
C. Specific intent to commit larceny by any means
D. Negligent failure to verify the authenticity of a document before circulation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: People v. Johnson, 460 Mich 351 (1999), held that the offense of uttering and publishing under MCL 750.249
requires that the defendant (1) knew the document was false, (2) intended to defraud, and (3) published or offered the false
document. This is a strict-specific-intent felony punishable by up to 14 years. Reckless disregard, general larceny intent, and
negligence are all insufficient — the statute requires actual knowledge of falsity plus intent to defraud.
Q5: Under MCL 750.479a, a person who knowingly resists or obstructs a police officer in the discharge of
his or her duties is guilty of a felony. Which of the following constitutes 'obstructing' under Michigan law
as interpreted in People v. Krum, 374 Mich 356 (1965)?
A. Refusing to answer questions during a consensual encounter with an officer
B. Fleeing from an officer attempting a lawful arrest [CORRECT]
C. Standing silently and recording an officer from a public sidewalk
D. Refusing to consent to a search of one's vehicle during a routine traffic stop
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: People v. Krum defined obstruction under MCL 750.479 as actively interfering with an officer in the discharge of
duty — flight from a lawful arrest qualifies. Mere refusal to answer questions, lawful recording from a public place, and
refusal to consent to a search are protected by the Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments and do not constitute obstructing
under the statute. The statute criminalizes physical interference or active resistance, not the assertion of constitutional rights.
Q6: A suspect is charged with carrying a concealed weapon (CCW) under MCL 750.227. Which of the
following accurately describes the elements the prosecution must prove?
A. The defendant carried a weapon, the weapon was concealed, and the defendant was not in his or her own
dwelling house or place of business, with no CPL [CORRECT]
Z.ai · Law Enforcement Education Series Page 2
, Final MCOLES 2026/2027 Exam — Already A+ Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards
B. The defendant carried any dangerous weapon, openly or concealed, in any public place
C. The defendant displayed a firearm in a threatening manner within 500 feet of a school
D. The defendant possessed a firearm while having a prior felony conviction within the past 8 years
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: MCL 750.227 makes it a five-year felony to carry a concealed pistol or other dangerous weapon (knife with blade
over 3 inches, dagger, etc.) without a Concealed Pistol License (CPL), outside of one's own dwelling, place of business, or
other lands owned/leased. The elements are: (1) carrying, (2) concealed, (3) not in own dwelling/business, (4) no CPL. Open
carry is regulated differently under MCL 750.234d (weapons-free zones), not MCL 750.227.
Q7: Under MCL 750.110, breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony therein is punishable by up
to 10 years. What is the mens rea element the prosecution must establish beyond a reasonable doubt?
A. General intent to enter the structure
B. Specific intent to commit a felony or larceny therein at the time of the breaking and entering
[CORRECT]
C. Reckless disregard for whether a felony would be committed
D. Knowledge that the structure belonged to another person
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: People v. Truong (After Remand), 218 Mich App 213 (1996), and long-standing Michigan precedent hold that
B&E; under MCL 750.110 requires the specific intent to commit a felony or larceny at the time of the breaking and entering.
This specific intent may be inferred from circumstances (e.g., time of entry, method, possession of burglary tools). General
intent, recklessness, or mere knowledge of ownership is insufficient — the intent to commit the underlying felony at the time of
entry is the mens rea.
Q8: Under MCL 333.7403, possession of a controlled substance requires the prosecution to prove which two
elements?
A. Knowledge of the controlled nature of the substance and the ability to exercise dominion and control
over it [CORRECT]
B. Knowledge of the chemical composition and intent to distribute
C. Mere proximity to the substance and prior drug-related arrests
D. Ownership of the substance and presence at the location of the seizure
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: People v. Hamilton, 465 Mich 526 (2002), held that to prove possession of a controlled substance under MCL
333.7403, the prosecution must prove (1) that the defendant knew the nature of the substance as a controlled substance, and
(2) that the defendant had the ability to exercise dominion and control over it. Mere proximity, ownership, or presence alone is
insufficient. Constructive possession satisfies the dominion/control element where the defendant had access to and the right to
control the substance.
Q9: Which Michigan offense, codified at MCL 750.316, applies when a death occurs during the commission
of enumerated felonies including first-degree criminal sexual conduct, arson, robbery, breaking and
entering, kidnapping, or carjacking?
A. Second-degree murder (MCL 750.317)
B. Felony murder (MCL 750.316) [CORRECT]
C. Manslaughter (MCL 750.321)
D. Negligent homicide (MCL 750.324)
Correct Answer: B
Z.ai · Law Enforcement Education Series Page 3
M IC HIGA N C O M M IS S IO N O N L AW E N FO R C E M E N T S TA N D A R D S
Final MCOLES
Exam
Already A+
A+ Verified Comprehensive Licensing Examination
A 165-question final assessment aligned with the Michigan Commission on
Law Enforcement Standards licensing examination blueprint. Coverage
spans Michigan criminal law (MCL 750, 752, 333, 257), constitutional
procedure, patrol and traffic enforcement, use of force standards under
Graham v. Connor, investigations, the Michigan court system, special
populations, and professional ethics — with verified answers, MCL
citations, and A+ rationales.
T O TA L Q U E S T I O N S SE CTIO N S F O R M AT
165 9 MCQ · A–D
Z .A I · L AW E N F O R C E M E N T E D U C AT I O N S E R I E S A + V ER IFIED
,Final MCOLES 2026/2027 Exam — Already A+ Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards
Final MCOLES 2026/2027 Exam — Already A+
A+ Verified Comprehensive Licensing Examination
Total Questions 165
Total Sections 9
Format Multiple Choice (A–D), one correct answer per question
Cognitive Mix ~35% recall, ~45% application, ~20% analysis
Question Style ~75% scenario-based, ~25% direct recall
Coverage MCL 750, 752, 333, 257; US Const. Amends. 4/5/6/8/14; MCOLES standards; Michigan case law
Answer Format Correct answer marked with [CORRECT]; rationale with MCL citations and case law
Section 1: Michigan Criminal Law
MCL Chapters 750, 752, 333, & 257 — Offenses, Elements, Classifications, & Penalties (Q1–Q32)
Q1: Under MCL 750.110a, first-degree home invasion requires that the defendant break and enter a
dwelling with intent to commit a felony therein. Which additional element distinguishes home invasion first
degree from second degree?
A. The defendant was armed with a dangerous weapon at the time of entry
B. At any time while entering, present in, or exiting the dwelling, another person was lawfully present or
expected to be lawfully present [CORRECT]
C. The dwelling was damaged in excess of $1,000 during the commission of the offense
D. The defendant has a prior conviction for breaking and entering within the preceding seven years
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: MCL 750.110a(2) classifies home invasion in the first degree when, at any time while entering, present in, or
exiting a dwelling, another person is lawfully present or expected to be lawfully present. The presence of a person elevates the
offense to first degree (a felony punishable by up to 20 years). A weapon would relate to armed home invasion under MCL
750.110a(4), property damage threshold is not an element, and prior-record enhancement is governed by separate sentencing
provisions, not the substantive element of the offense.
Q2: An officer responds to a retail store where a suspect has concealed merchandise valued at $350 and
passed all points of sale. Under MCL 750.356d and People v. Slaughter, what is the proper charge?
A. First-degree retail fraud (MCL 750.356c), a felony
B. Second-degree retail fraud (MCL 750.356d(2)), a misdemeanor [CORRECT]
C. Third-degree retail fraud (MCL 750.356d(4)), a misdemeanor
D. Larceny in a building (MCL 750.360), a felony
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: MCL 750.356d(2) provides that second-degree retail fraud applies when the value of the merchandise involved is
$200 or more but less than $1,000, and it is a one-year misdemeanor. People v. Slaughter, 489 Mich 302 (2011) held that
retail fraud requires the prosecution to prove the defendant intended to defraud the store. Third degree applies only when
value is less than $200. First degree requires value of $1,000 or more. Larceny in a building does not apply to retail fraud
Z.ai · Law Enforcement Education Series Page 1
,Final MCOLES 2026/2027 Exam — Already A+ Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards
contexts because the retail fraud statute is the more specific statute.
Q3: Under MCL 750.520e, CSC in the fourth degree requires a finding that the defendant engaged in
sexual contact with another person and that:
A. The victim was under 13 years of age
B. The defendant used force or coercion to accomplish the contact
C. The defendant knew or should have known that the victim was mentally incapable, mentally
incapacitated, or physically helpless, or the force/coercion element is met [CORRECT]
D. The contact occurred in the course of committing another felony
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: MCL 750.520e defines fourth-degree CSC as sexual contact involving force or coercion OR where the defendant
knew or should have known that the victim was mentally incapable, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.
Fourth-degree CSC is a two-year high-court misdemeanor. Options A and B describe first-degree CSC elements under MCL
750.520b. Option D is not a statutory element of any CSC degree.
Q4: Which of the following accurately states the mens rea required for Uttering and Publishing under
MCL 750.249?
A. Knowledge that the instrument was false with intent to defraud, accompanied by the act of publishing or
offering the instrument [CORRECT]
B. Reckless disregard for the truthfulness of the instrument
C. Specific intent to commit larceny by any means
D. Negligent failure to verify the authenticity of a document before circulation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: People v. Johnson, 460 Mich 351 (1999), held that the offense of uttering and publishing under MCL 750.249
requires that the defendant (1) knew the document was false, (2) intended to defraud, and (3) published or offered the false
document. This is a strict-specific-intent felony punishable by up to 14 years. Reckless disregard, general larceny intent, and
negligence are all insufficient — the statute requires actual knowledge of falsity plus intent to defraud.
Q5: Under MCL 750.479a, a person who knowingly resists or obstructs a police officer in the discharge of
his or her duties is guilty of a felony. Which of the following constitutes 'obstructing' under Michigan law
as interpreted in People v. Krum, 374 Mich 356 (1965)?
A. Refusing to answer questions during a consensual encounter with an officer
B. Fleeing from an officer attempting a lawful arrest [CORRECT]
C. Standing silently and recording an officer from a public sidewalk
D. Refusing to consent to a search of one's vehicle during a routine traffic stop
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: People v. Krum defined obstruction under MCL 750.479 as actively interfering with an officer in the discharge of
duty — flight from a lawful arrest qualifies. Mere refusal to answer questions, lawful recording from a public place, and
refusal to consent to a search are protected by the Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments and do not constitute obstructing
under the statute. The statute criminalizes physical interference or active resistance, not the assertion of constitutional rights.
Q6: A suspect is charged with carrying a concealed weapon (CCW) under MCL 750.227. Which of the
following accurately describes the elements the prosecution must prove?
A. The defendant carried a weapon, the weapon was concealed, and the defendant was not in his or her own
dwelling house or place of business, with no CPL [CORRECT]
Z.ai · Law Enforcement Education Series Page 2
, Final MCOLES 2026/2027 Exam — Already A+ Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards
B. The defendant carried any dangerous weapon, openly or concealed, in any public place
C. The defendant displayed a firearm in a threatening manner within 500 feet of a school
D. The defendant possessed a firearm while having a prior felony conviction within the past 8 years
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: MCL 750.227 makes it a five-year felony to carry a concealed pistol or other dangerous weapon (knife with blade
over 3 inches, dagger, etc.) without a Concealed Pistol License (CPL), outside of one's own dwelling, place of business, or
other lands owned/leased. The elements are: (1) carrying, (2) concealed, (3) not in own dwelling/business, (4) no CPL. Open
carry is regulated differently under MCL 750.234d (weapons-free zones), not MCL 750.227.
Q7: Under MCL 750.110, breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony therein is punishable by up
to 10 years. What is the mens rea element the prosecution must establish beyond a reasonable doubt?
A. General intent to enter the structure
B. Specific intent to commit a felony or larceny therein at the time of the breaking and entering
[CORRECT]
C. Reckless disregard for whether a felony would be committed
D. Knowledge that the structure belonged to another person
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: People v. Truong (After Remand), 218 Mich App 213 (1996), and long-standing Michigan precedent hold that
B&E; under MCL 750.110 requires the specific intent to commit a felony or larceny at the time of the breaking and entering.
This specific intent may be inferred from circumstances (e.g., time of entry, method, possession of burglary tools). General
intent, recklessness, or mere knowledge of ownership is insufficient — the intent to commit the underlying felony at the time of
entry is the mens rea.
Q8: Under MCL 333.7403, possession of a controlled substance requires the prosecution to prove which two
elements?
A. Knowledge of the controlled nature of the substance and the ability to exercise dominion and control
over it [CORRECT]
B. Knowledge of the chemical composition and intent to distribute
C. Mere proximity to the substance and prior drug-related arrests
D. Ownership of the substance and presence at the location of the seizure
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: People v. Hamilton, 465 Mich 526 (2002), held that to prove possession of a controlled substance under MCL
333.7403, the prosecution must prove (1) that the defendant knew the nature of the substance as a controlled substance, and
(2) that the defendant had the ability to exercise dominion and control over it. Mere proximity, ownership, or presence alone is
insufficient. Constructive possession satisfies the dominion/control element where the defendant had access to and the right to
control the substance.
Q9: Which Michigan offense, codified at MCL 750.316, applies when a death occurs during the commission
of enumerated felonies including first-degree criminal sexual conduct, arson, robbery, breaking and
entering, kidnapping, or carjacking?
A. Second-degree murder (MCL 750.317)
B. Felony murder (MCL 750.316) [CORRECT]
C. Manslaughter (MCL 750.321)
D. Negligent homicide (MCL 750.324)
Correct Answer: B
Z.ai · Law Enforcement Education Series Page 3
