NYS PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR Exam 2026/2027
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
• abscond -✓✓ To hide from the jurisdiction of a court in order to avoid confinement.
• Accessory -✓✓ Although not the principal actor in the commission of an offense, a
person who solicits, requests, commands or intentionally aids the principal actor engage
in the commission of such offense.
• Accomplice -✓✓ A person who is liable t prosecution for the identical offense charged
against a defendant of trial.
• Acquit -✓✓ To free a person legally from an accusation of criminal guilt.
• Affidavit -✓✓ A written statement made under oath
• Alibi -✓✓ A defense of having been in another place at the time the crime was
committed.
• Appeal -✓✓ A review, by higher court, to determine whether the decision, order or
verdict in the lower court should be reversed, modified or affirmed.
• Arbitration -✓✓ The settlement of a disagreement, out of court, by an arbitrator chosen
by the parties to the argument.
• Arriagnment -✓✓ Calling a defendant before the court to answer an accusation.
• Arson -✓✓ The willful and malicious burning of property.
• Assault -✓✓ Intentionally, recklessly or with criminal negligence causing physical injury
to another person.
• Attachment -✓✓ The legal seizure of the property of a defendant before judgement.
• Autopsy -✓✓ The dissection of a dead human body, by an authorized doctor, to
determine the cause of death.
• Bail -✓✓ To set free or liberate from arrest and imprisonment, upon security given that
the person released shall appear and answer in court.
• Ballistics -✓✓ The examination of bullets that haven been fired for the purpose of
discovering from which weapon a given ballet has been fired. The science that deals
with the motion of projectiles.
, • Bench Warrant -✓✓ A court Oder, in which a criminal action is pending, directing a
police officer, or a uniformed court officer, to take custody of the defendant, in such
action, and bring him before the court.
• Blackmail -✓✓ The extortion of goods, money, or the procuring of an illegal act by
threat, in writing, of criminal prosecution or the the destruction of a persons reputation or
social standing or personal injury.
• Bribery -✓✓ Promising or offering money to a witness or a public officer or official to
influence his action or testimony.
• Bug -✓✓ An instrument or device used to intentionally overhear a conversation or
discussion, without the consent of at least one party thereto, by a person not present
threat.
• Burglary -✓✓ To knowingly enter or remain unlawfully in a building with the intent to
commit a crime Therein.
• Capital offense -✓✓ A crime for which a life sentence or the death penalty is
prescribed by law.
• circumstantial evidence -✓✓ Evidence which includes facts, cognitions, & events from
which an inference may be drawn as to the existence of the fact to be established.
• Coercion -✓✓ To compel or induce a person to engage in conduct, that he has a legal
right to engage in or not, by means of force or threat.
• Confession -✓✓ A statement by a person accused of a crime admitting his guilt.
• Conspiracy -✓✓ A combination of two or more persons to accomplish a criminal or
unlawful act
• Contempt of court -✓✓ Behavior disrespectful of the authority of a court, which
obstructs the execution of court orders.
• Contract -✓✓ A agreement to do or not to do a certain thing.
• Corpus Delicti -✓✓ The body of a crime.
• Corroborating Evidence -✓✓ Evidence supplementary to that already given and
tending to strengthen or conform it.
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
• abscond -✓✓ To hide from the jurisdiction of a court in order to avoid confinement.
• Accessory -✓✓ Although not the principal actor in the commission of an offense, a
person who solicits, requests, commands or intentionally aids the principal actor engage
in the commission of such offense.
• Accomplice -✓✓ A person who is liable t prosecution for the identical offense charged
against a defendant of trial.
• Acquit -✓✓ To free a person legally from an accusation of criminal guilt.
• Affidavit -✓✓ A written statement made under oath
• Alibi -✓✓ A defense of having been in another place at the time the crime was
committed.
• Appeal -✓✓ A review, by higher court, to determine whether the decision, order or
verdict in the lower court should be reversed, modified or affirmed.
• Arbitration -✓✓ The settlement of a disagreement, out of court, by an arbitrator chosen
by the parties to the argument.
• Arriagnment -✓✓ Calling a defendant before the court to answer an accusation.
• Arson -✓✓ The willful and malicious burning of property.
• Assault -✓✓ Intentionally, recklessly or with criminal negligence causing physical injury
to another person.
• Attachment -✓✓ The legal seizure of the property of a defendant before judgement.
• Autopsy -✓✓ The dissection of a dead human body, by an authorized doctor, to
determine the cause of death.
• Bail -✓✓ To set free or liberate from arrest and imprisonment, upon security given that
the person released shall appear and answer in court.
• Ballistics -✓✓ The examination of bullets that haven been fired for the purpose of
discovering from which weapon a given ballet has been fired. The science that deals
with the motion of projectiles.
, • Bench Warrant -✓✓ A court Oder, in which a criminal action is pending, directing a
police officer, or a uniformed court officer, to take custody of the defendant, in such
action, and bring him before the court.
• Blackmail -✓✓ The extortion of goods, money, or the procuring of an illegal act by
threat, in writing, of criminal prosecution or the the destruction of a persons reputation or
social standing or personal injury.
• Bribery -✓✓ Promising or offering money to a witness or a public officer or official to
influence his action or testimony.
• Bug -✓✓ An instrument or device used to intentionally overhear a conversation or
discussion, without the consent of at least one party thereto, by a person not present
threat.
• Burglary -✓✓ To knowingly enter or remain unlawfully in a building with the intent to
commit a crime Therein.
• Capital offense -✓✓ A crime for which a life sentence or the death penalty is
prescribed by law.
• circumstantial evidence -✓✓ Evidence which includes facts, cognitions, & events from
which an inference may be drawn as to the existence of the fact to be established.
• Coercion -✓✓ To compel or induce a person to engage in conduct, that he has a legal
right to engage in or not, by means of force or threat.
• Confession -✓✓ A statement by a person accused of a crime admitting his guilt.
• Conspiracy -✓✓ A combination of two or more persons to accomplish a criminal or
unlawful act
• Contempt of court -✓✓ Behavior disrespectful of the authority of a court, which
obstructs the execution of court orders.
• Contract -✓✓ A agreement to do or not to do a certain thing.
• Corpus Delicti -✓✓ The body of a crime.
• Corroborating Evidence -✓✓ Evidence supplementary to that already given and
tending to strengthen or conform it.
