Missouri POST Study Guide Exam –
Complete Practice Test Bank 2026-2027
1. Which of the following distinguishes burglary from criminal trespass
under Missouri law?
A. The time of day the entry occurs
B. Unauthorized entry with intent to commit a crime inside
C. The value of property taken
D. Whether the building had an alarm system
Correct Answer: B. Unauthorized entry with intent to commit a crime
inside.
Rationale: Under Missouri law (RSMo 569.160 for first-degree and 569.170 for
second-degree), burglary requires unauthorized entry with intent to commit a
felony or theft. Criminal trespass is unauthorized entry without this specific
criminal intent .
2. Under Missouri theft law (RSMo 570.030), what mental state is
required for the offense?
A. Strict liability
B. Knowingly taking property of another with intent to permanently deprive
the owner
C. Negligence
D. Recklessness only
Correct Answer: B. Knowingly taking property of another with intent to
permanently deprive the owner.
,Rationale: Missouri theft law requires knowingly or intentionally taking
property of another with intent to permanently deprive the owner. Both the
knowing mental state and deprivation intent are essential elements of the
offense .
3. Under Missouri self-defense law (RSMo 563.031), when may a
person use force?
A. Any time they feel uncomfortable
B. When they reasonably believe force is necessary to defend against
imminent unlawful force
C. Only law enforcement may use force
D. Only when attacked with a weapon
Correct Answer: B. When they reasonably believe force is necessary to
defend against imminent unlawful force.
Rationale: Under Missouri law, self-defense allows reasonable force when a
person reasonably believes it is necessary to defend against imminent
unlawful force. The force must be proportional to the threat .
4. What constitutes aggravated assault under Missouri law?
A. A verbal argument
B. Assault with a deadly weapon, causing serious injury, or targeting a
protected victim
C. Accidentally bumping someone
D. Raising your voice in public
Correct Answer: B. Assault with a deadly weapon, causing serious
injury, or targeting a protected victim.
,Rationale: Aggravated assault in Missouri involves assault with aggravating
factors such as deadly weapon use, serious bodily injury, or targeting
protected victims like officers or children .
5. Under Missouri law, what is arson?
A. Accidentally starting a fire
B. Knowingly or intentionally damaging property by fire or explosive
C. Failing to report a fire
D. Having a campfire without a permit
Correct Answer: B. Knowingly or intentionally damaging property by
fire or explosive.
Rationale: Arson in Missouri involves knowingly or intentionally damaging
property by fire or explosive. The knowing mental state distinguishes it from
accidental fires .
6. Which of the following is the securest method of handcuffing a
prisoner?
A. In front with hands together
B. Behind the back with the back of the hands facing each other and palms
facing outward, double locked
C. In front with hands apart
D. Hands cuffed to a stationary object
Correct Answer: B. Behind the back with the back of the hands facing
each other and palms facing outward, double locked.
, Rationale: The securest method of handcuffing a prisoner is behind the back
with the back of the hands facing each other and the palms facing outward,
double locked to avoid excessive tightening .
7. If a person is suffering from extreme hypothermia, why should you
be cautious about rapidly reheating them?
A. It can cause burns
B. It can cause cardiac arrest
C. It can cause dehydration
D. It can cause seizures
Correct Answer: B. It can cause cardiac arrest.
Rationale: Rapid reheating of someone suffering from extreme hypothermia
can cause cardiac arrest .
8. At the scene of a suspected suicide with a gun, what is the most
important piece of evidence to preserve?
A. The bullet
B. The hands or weapon
C. The victim's clothing
D. The suicide note
Correct Answer: B. The hands or weapon.
Rationale: At the scene of a suspected suicide with a gun, the most important
piece of evidence to preserve is the hands or weapon .
Complete Practice Test Bank 2026-2027
1. Which of the following distinguishes burglary from criminal trespass
under Missouri law?
A. The time of day the entry occurs
B. Unauthorized entry with intent to commit a crime inside
C. The value of property taken
D. Whether the building had an alarm system
Correct Answer: B. Unauthorized entry with intent to commit a crime
inside.
Rationale: Under Missouri law (RSMo 569.160 for first-degree and 569.170 for
second-degree), burglary requires unauthorized entry with intent to commit a
felony or theft. Criminal trespass is unauthorized entry without this specific
criminal intent .
2. Under Missouri theft law (RSMo 570.030), what mental state is
required for the offense?
A. Strict liability
B. Knowingly taking property of another with intent to permanently deprive
the owner
C. Negligence
D. Recklessness only
Correct Answer: B. Knowingly taking property of another with intent to
permanently deprive the owner.
,Rationale: Missouri theft law requires knowingly or intentionally taking
property of another with intent to permanently deprive the owner. Both the
knowing mental state and deprivation intent are essential elements of the
offense .
3. Under Missouri self-defense law (RSMo 563.031), when may a
person use force?
A. Any time they feel uncomfortable
B. When they reasonably believe force is necessary to defend against
imminent unlawful force
C. Only law enforcement may use force
D. Only when attacked with a weapon
Correct Answer: B. When they reasonably believe force is necessary to
defend against imminent unlawful force.
Rationale: Under Missouri law, self-defense allows reasonable force when a
person reasonably believes it is necessary to defend against imminent
unlawful force. The force must be proportional to the threat .
4. What constitutes aggravated assault under Missouri law?
A. A verbal argument
B. Assault with a deadly weapon, causing serious injury, or targeting a
protected victim
C. Accidentally bumping someone
D. Raising your voice in public
Correct Answer: B. Assault with a deadly weapon, causing serious
injury, or targeting a protected victim.
,Rationale: Aggravated assault in Missouri involves assault with aggravating
factors such as deadly weapon use, serious bodily injury, or targeting
protected victims like officers or children .
5. Under Missouri law, what is arson?
A. Accidentally starting a fire
B. Knowingly or intentionally damaging property by fire or explosive
C. Failing to report a fire
D. Having a campfire without a permit
Correct Answer: B. Knowingly or intentionally damaging property by
fire or explosive.
Rationale: Arson in Missouri involves knowingly or intentionally damaging
property by fire or explosive. The knowing mental state distinguishes it from
accidental fires .
6. Which of the following is the securest method of handcuffing a
prisoner?
A. In front with hands together
B. Behind the back with the back of the hands facing each other and palms
facing outward, double locked
C. In front with hands apart
D. Hands cuffed to a stationary object
Correct Answer: B. Behind the back with the back of the hands facing
each other and palms facing outward, double locked.
, Rationale: The securest method of handcuffing a prisoner is behind the back
with the back of the hands facing each other and the palms facing outward,
double locked to avoid excessive tightening .
7. If a person is suffering from extreme hypothermia, why should you
be cautious about rapidly reheating them?
A. It can cause burns
B. It can cause cardiac arrest
C. It can cause dehydration
D. It can cause seizures
Correct Answer: B. It can cause cardiac arrest.
Rationale: Rapid reheating of someone suffering from extreme hypothermia
can cause cardiac arrest .
8. At the scene of a suspected suicide with a gun, what is the most
important piece of evidence to preserve?
A. The bullet
B. The hands or weapon
C. The victim's clothing
D. The suicide note
Correct Answer: B. The hands or weapon.
Rationale: At the scene of a suspected suicide with a gun, the most important
piece of evidence to preserve is the hands or weapon .
