NILEA Criminal Law
NILEA – NORTHERN INDIANA LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY
CRIMINAL LAW | EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS |
2026/2027
NORTHWEST INDIANA LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY (NILEA)
1. Under IC 35-41-2-2, a person engages in conduct "intentionally"
when:
A. He fails to perceive a substantial risk
B. He acts in plain, conscious, and unjustifiable disregard of the harm
C. It is his conscious objective to do so
D. He is aware of a high probability that he is doing so
C. It is his conscious objective to do so
Intentional conduct is defined by the actor's conscious objective, the
highest level of culpability in Indiana.
2. Under Indiana law, a person engages in conduct "knowingly" if,
when he engages in the conduct:
A. He disregards a risk that a reasonable person would have noticed
B. He is aware of a high probability that he is doing so
C. It is his conscious objective to do so
D. He should have known the result would occur
B. He is aware of a high probability that he is doing so
Knowing conduct rests on awareness of a high probability, not on the
actor's purpose or desire.
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, NILEA Criminal Law
3. "Recklessly" under IC 35-41-2-2 requires conduct in plain, conscious,
and unjustifiable disregard of harm that might result and that involves:
A. Any deviation at all from ordinary care
B. Awareness of a high probability that harm will occur
C. A conscious objective to cause the harm
D. A substantial deviation from acceptable standards of conduct
D. A substantial deviation from acceptable standards of conduct
The reckless standard pairs conscious disregard with a substantial
deviation from acceptable standards of conduct.
4. How many levels of culpability are defined in IC 35-41-2-2?
A. Three — intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly
B. Four — purposely, knowingly, recklessly, and negligently
C. Five, including strict liability and negligence
D. Two — intentionally and recklessly
A. Three — intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly
Indiana's general culpability statute defines only intentionally,
knowingly, and recklessly.
5. Under IC 35-41-2-1, a person commits an offense only if he:
A. Has a prior criminal record
B. Admits to the conduct in a written statement
C. Acts with intent in every case regardless of the statute
D. Voluntarily engages in conduct in violation of the statute defining the
offense
D. Voluntarily engages in conduct in violation of the statute
defining the offense
A voluntary act is the foundation of criminal liability under Indiana law.
Page 2 of 62
, NILEA Criminal Law
6. Possession is treated as a voluntary act under IC 35-41-2-1 when the
person:
A. Knowingly procures or receives the property, or is aware of his
control for a time sufficient to terminate it
B. Is merely present near the item for any length of time
C. Is related to the owner of the item
D. Has the item anywhere in the same county
A. Knowingly procures or receives the property, or is aware of his
control for a time sufficient to terminate it
Possession becomes voluntary through knowing receipt or awareness of
control long enough to end it.
7. When a statute defining an offense prescribes a kind of culpability
but does not specify which elements it applies to, the culpability:
A. Applies only to the result element
B. Is required with respect to every material element of the prohibited
conduct
C. Is not required for any element
D. Applies only to the first element listed
B. Is required with respect to every material element of the
prohibited conduct
IC 35-41-2-2(d) applies the stated culpability to every material element
unless the statute says otherwise.
8. If an Indiana statute requires a person to act "recklessly," which of
the following also satisfies that requirement?
A. Proof of a civil judgment against the person
B. Proof that the person acted knowingly or intentionally
C. Proof only of ordinary negligence
D. Proof that the person had no awareness of the risk
B. Proof that the person acted knowingly or intentionally
Higher culpability levels satisfy a lower requirement; knowing or
intentional conduct proves recklessness.
Page 3 of 62
, NILEA Criminal Law
9. Constructive possession of contraband in Indiana generally requires
proof of:
A. Both the intent and the capability to maintain dominion and control
over the item
B. Fingerprints on the item in every case
C. Ownership of the premises only
D. A written admission of ownership
A. Both the intent and the capability to maintain dominion and
control over the item
Indiana courts require capability and intent to control; intent is often
shown by additional circumstances when possession is non-exclusive.
10. The legal principle that no act is a crime unless prohibited by
statute at the time it was committed is known as:
A. Stare decisis
B. Habeas corpus
C. Nullum crimen sine lege
D. Res judicata
C. Nullum crimen sine lege
Criminal liability in Indiana flows from statute; conduct not prohibited
by law when committed cannot be punished.
11. An "ex post facto" law, prohibited by both the U.S. and Indiana
Constitutions, is one that:
A. Applies only to juveniles
B. Is passed during an emergency session
C. Reduces the penalty for a crime
D. Punishes an act that was not a crime when committed or increases
punishment after the fact
D. Punishes an act that was not a crime when committed or
increases punishment after the fact
Retroactive criminalization or increased punishment violates the ex post
facto clauses.
Page 4 of 62
NILEA – NORTHERN INDIANA LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY
CRIMINAL LAW | EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS |
2026/2027
NORTHWEST INDIANA LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY (NILEA)
1. Under IC 35-41-2-2, a person engages in conduct "intentionally"
when:
A. He fails to perceive a substantial risk
B. He acts in plain, conscious, and unjustifiable disregard of the harm
C. It is his conscious objective to do so
D. He is aware of a high probability that he is doing so
C. It is his conscious objective to do so
Intentional conduct is defined by the actor's conscious objective, the
highest level of culpability in Indiana.
2. Under Indiana law, a person engages in conduct "knowingly" if,
when he engages in the conduct:
A. He disregards a risk that a reasonable person would have noticed
B. He is aware of a high probability that he is doing so
C. It is his conscious objective to do so
D. He should have known the result would occur
B. He is aware of a high probability that he is doing so
Knowing conduct rests on awareness of a high probability, not on the
actor's purpose or desire.
Page 1 of 62
, NILEA Criminal Law
3. "Recklessly" under IC 35-41-2-2 requires conduct in plain, conscious,
and unjustifiable disregard of harm that might result and that involves:
A. Any deviation at all from ordinary care
B. Awareness of a high probability that harm will occur
C. A conscious objective to cause the harm
D. A substantial deviation from acceptable standards of conduct
D. A substantial deviation from acceptable standards of conduct
The reckless standard pairs conscious disregard with a substantial
deviation from acceptable standards of conduct.
4. How many levels of culpability are defined in IC 35-41-2-2?
A. Three — intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly
B. Four — purposely, knowingly, recklessly, and negligently
C. Five, including strict liability and negligence
D. Two — intentionally and recklessly
A. Three — intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly
Indiana's general culpability statute defines only intentionally,
knowingly, and recklessly.
5. Under IC 35-41-2-1, a person commits an offense only if he:
A. Has a prior criminal record
B. Admits to the conduct in a written statement
C. Acts with intent in every case regardless of the statute
D. Voluntarily engages in conduct in violation of the statute defining the
offense
D. Voluntarily engages in conduct in violation of the statute
defining the offense
A voluntary act is the foundation of criminal liability under Indiana law.
Page 2 of 62
, NILEA Criminal Law
6. Possession is treated as a voluntary act under IC 35-41-2-1 when the
person:
A. Knowingly procures or receives the property, or is aware of his
control for a time sufficient to terminate it
B. Is merely present near the item for any length of time
C. Is related to the owner of the item
D. Has the item anywhere in the same county
A. Knowingly procures or receives the property, or is aware of his
control for a time sufficient to terminate it
Possession becomes voluntary through knowing receipt or awareness of
control long enough to end it.
7. When a statute defining an offense prescribes a kind of culpability
but does not specify which elements it applies to, the culpability:
A. Applies only to the result element
B. Is required with respect to every material element of the prohibited
conduct
C. Is not required for any element
D. Applies only to the first element listed
B. Is required with respect to every material element of the
prohibited conduct
IC 35-41-2-2(d) applies the stated culpability to every material element
unless the statute says otherwise.
8. If an Indiana statute requires a person to act "recklessly," which of
the following also satisfies that requirement?
A. Proof of a civil judgment against the person
B. Proof that the person acted knowingly or intentionally
C. Proof only of ordinary negligence
D. Proof that the person had no awareness of the risk
B. Proof that the person acted knowingly or intentionally
Higher culpability levels satisfy a lower requirement; knowing or
intentional conduct proves recklessness.
Page 3 of 62
, NILEA Criminal Law
9. Constructive possession of contraband in Indiana generally requires
proof of:
A. Both the intent and the capability to maintain dominion and control
over the item
B. Fingerprints on the item in every case
C. Ownership of the premises only
D. A written admission of ownership
A. Both the intent and the capability to maintain dominion and
control over the item
Indiana courts require capability and intent to control; intent is often
shown by additional circumstances when possession is non-exclusive.
10. The legal principle that no act is a crime unless prohibited by
statute at the time it was committed is known as:
A. Stare decisis
B. Habeas corpus
C. Nullum crimen sine lege
D. Res judicata
C. Nullum crimen sine lege
Criminal liability in Indiana flows from statute; conduct not prohibited
by law when committed cannot be punished.
11. An "ex post facto" law, prohibited by both the U.S. and Indiana
Constitutions, is one that:
A. Applies only to juveniles
B. Is passed during an emergency session
C. Reduces the penalty for a crime
D. Punishes an act that was not a crime when committed or increases
punishment after the fact
D. Punishes an act that was not a crime when committed or
increases punishment after the fact
Retroactive criminalization or increased punishment violates the ex post
facto clauses.
Page 4 of 62
