State Officer Certification Examination (SOCE)
(CJSTC) EXAMINATION COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED
SOLUTIONS — LATEST UPDATE 2026 — OFFICIAL BLUEPRINT
REPLICA.
SECTION 1: FLORIDA CRIMINAL LAW (FSS Chapters 810-900, 893, 316) — 35
Questions
Q1: Under FSS 776.012(2), when is a person justified in using or threatening to
use deadly force?
A. When the person reasonably believes such force is necessary to prevent
imminent death or great bodily harm to themselves or another
B. When the person is angry and feels threatened
C. When the person is in a public place and wants to stand their ground
D. When the person reasonably believes property is being damaged
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because FSS 776.012(2) provides that a person is justified in
using or threatening to use deadly force if he or she reasonably believes that
using or threatening to use such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or
great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent
commission of a forcible felony. A person who uses or threatens to use deadly
force in accordance with this subsection does not have a duty to retreat and has
the right to stand his or her ground if the person is not engaged in a criminal
activity and is in a place where he or she has a right to be.
Q2: Under FSS 776.05, a law enforcement officer is justified in using any force
when necessarily committed in arresting felons fleeing from justice, provided
that:
A. The officer has a warrant for the felon's arrest
B. The use of deadly force was necessary to prevent the arrest from being
defeated by such flight, and when feasible, some warning had been given
C. The felon is known to be armed with a firearm
D. The felon has been previously convicted of the felony
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Correct because FSS 776.05(3) states that an officer is justified in
using force when necessarily committed in arresting felons fleeing from justice;
however, this subsection shall not constitute a defense in any civil action for
damages brought for the wrongful use of deadly force unless the use of deadly
force was necessary to prevent the arrest from being defeated by such flight and,
when feasible, some warning had been given, and: (a) The officer reasonably
believes that the fleeing felon poses a threat of death or serious physical harm to
the officer or others; or (b) The officer reasonably believes that the fleeing felon
has committed a crime involving the infliction or threatened infliction of serious
physical harm to another person.
Q3: Under FSS 776.06, "deadly force" as applied to a law enforcement officer
includes:
A. Verbal commands to stop
B. The firing of a firearm in the direction of the person to be arrested, even
though no intent exists to kill or inflict great bodily harm
C. Handcuffing a resisting suspect
D. The use of pepper spray
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because FSS 776.06(1)(a) defines deadly force as force that is
likely to cause death or great bodily harm and includes, but is not limited to, the
firing of a firearm in the direction of the person to be arrested, even though no
intent exists to kill or inflict great bodily harm, and the firing of a firearm at a
vehicle in which the person to be arrested is riding.
Q4: Under FSS 776.08, which of the following is NOT classified as a "forcible
felony" in Florida?
A. Sexual battery
B. Burglary
C. Petit theft
D. Aggravated assault
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because FSS 776.08 defines "forcible felony" as treason;
murder; manslaughter; sexual battery; carjacking; home-invasion robbery;
robbery; burglary; arson; kidnapping; aggravated assault; aggravated battery;
, aggravated stalking; aircraft piracy; unlawful throwing, placing, or discharging of
a destructive device or bomb; and any other felony which involves the use or
threat of physical force or violence against any individual. Petit theft does not
involve the use or threat of physical force or violence and is therefore not a
forcible felony.
Q5: Under FSS 776.051(1), a person is NOT justified in using force to resist an
arrest by a law enforcement officer when:
A. The officer is acting in good faith and reasonably appears to be a law
enforcement officer
B. The officer is using excessive force
C. The arrest is for a minor traffic violation
D. The person believes the arrest is unlawful
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because FSS 776.051(1) provides that a person is not justified
in the use or threatened use of force to resist an arrest by a law enforcement
officer, or to resist a law enforcement officer who is engaged in the execution of a
legal duty, if the law enforcement officer was acting in good faith and he or she is
known, or reasonably appears, to be a law enforcement officer.
Q6: Under FSS 810.02, burglary of a dwelling is classified as what degree of
felony?
A. Second-degree felony
B. First-degree felony if the offender commits an assault or battery or is armed
C. Third-degree felony
D. Misdemeanor of the first degree
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because FSS 810.02(3) classifies burglary of a dwelling as a
felony of the second degree; however, it is a felony of the first degree if, in the
course of committing the offense, the offender makes an assault or battery upon
any person or is armed with a dangerous weapon or explosives.
Q7: Under FSS 812.014, grand theft of property valued at $750 or more but less
than $5,000 is classified as:
A. Misdemeanor of the first degree
(CJSTC) EXAMINATION COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED
SOLUTIONS — LATEST UPDATE 2026 — OFFICIAL BLUEPRINT
REPLICA.
SECTION 1: FLORIDA CRIMINAL LAW (FSS Chapters 810-900, 893, 316) — 35
Questions
Q1: Under FSS 776.012(2), when is a person justified in using or threatening to
use deadly force?
A. When the person reasonably believes such force is necessary to prevent
imminent death or great bodily harm to themselves or another
B. When the person is angry and feels threatened
C. When the person is in a public place and wants to stand their ground
D. When the person reasonably believes property is being damaged
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because FSS 776.012(2) provides that a person is justified in
using or threatening to use deadly force if he or she reasonably believes that
using or threatening to use such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or
great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent
commission of a forcible felony. A person who uses or threatens to use deadly
force in accordance with this subsection does not have a duty to retreat and has
the right to stand his or her ground if the person is not engaged in a criminal
activity and is in a place where he or she has a right to be.
Q2: Under FSS 776.05, a law enforcement officer is justified in using any force
when necessarily committed in arresting felons fleeing from justice, provided
that:
A. The officer has a warrant for the felon's arrest
B. The use of deadly force was necessary to prevent the arrest from being
defeated by such flight, and when feasible, some warning had been given
C. The felon is known to be armed with a firearm
D. The felon has been previously convicted of the felony
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Correct because FSS 776.05(3) states that an officer is justified in
using force when necessarily committed in arresting felons fleeing from justice;
however, this subsection shall not constitute a defense in any civil action for
damages brought for the wrongful use of deadly force unless the use of deadly
force was necessary to prevent the arrest from being defeated by such flight and,
when feasible, some warning had been given, and: (a) The officer reasonably
believes that the fleeing felon poses a threat of death or serious physical harm to
the officer or others; or (b) The officer reasonably believes that the fleeing felon
has committed a crime involving the infliction or threatened infliction of serious
physical harm to another person.
Q3: Under FSS 776.06, "deadly force" as applied to a law enforcement officer
includes:
A. Verbal commands to stop
B. The firing of a firearm in the direction of the person to be arrested, even
though no intent exists to kill or inflict great bodily harm
C. Handcuffing a resisting suspect
D. The use of pepper spray
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because FSS 776.06(1)(a) defines deadly force as force that is
likely to cause death or great bodily harm and includes, but is not limited to, the
firing of a firearm in the direction of the person to be arrested, even though no
intent exists to kill or inflict great bodily harm, and the firing of a firearm at a
vehicle in which the person to be arrested is riding.
Q4: Under FSS 776.08, which of the following is NOT classified as a "forcible
felony" in Florida?
A. Sexual battery
B. Burglary
C. Petit theft
D. Aggravated assault
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because FSS 776.08 defines "forcible felony" as treason;
murder; manslaughter; sexual battery; carjacking; home-invasion robbery;
robbery; burglary; arson; kidnapping; aggravated assault; aggravated battery;
, aggravated stalking; aircraft piracy; unlawful throwing, placing, or discharging of
a destructive device or bomb; and any other felony which involves the use or
threat of physical force or violence against any individual. Petit theft does not
involve the use or threat of physical force or violence and is therefore not a
forcible felony.
Q5: Under FSS 776.051(1), a person is NOT justified in using force to resist an
arrest by a law enforcement officer when:
A. The officer is acting in good faith and reasonably appears to be a law
enforcement officer
B. The officer is using excessive force
C. The arrest is for a minor traffic violation
D. The person believes the arrest is unlawful
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because FSS 776.051(1) provides that a person is not justified
in the use or threatened use of force to resist an arrest by a law enforcement
officer, or to resist a law enforcement officer who is engaged in the execution of a
legal duty, if the law enforcement officer was acting in good faith and he or she is
known, or reasonably appears, to be a law enforcement officer.
Q6: Under FSS 810.02, burglary of a dwelling is classified as what degree of
felony?
A. Second-degree felony
B. First-degree felony if the offender commits an assault or battery or is armed
C. Third-degree felony
D. Misdemeanor of the first degree
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because FSS 810.02(3) classifies burglary of a dwelling as a
felony of the second degree; however, it is a felony of the first degree if, in the
course of committing the offense, the offender makes an assault or battery upon
any person or is armed with a dangerous weapon or explosives.
Q7: Under FSS 812.014, grand theft of property valued at $750 or more but less
than $5,000 is classified as:
A. Misdemeanor of the first degree
