OPOTA Exam Practice Question & Correct
Answer (2024-2025)
List a peace officer's main goals. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Enforce laws
2. Preserve peace
3. Prevent crime
4. Protect civil rights & liberties
5. Provide services
Explain items to consider when exercising discretion. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Use sound judgement to
determine which laws are to be formally enforced.
2.Determine if there is a more constructive remedy rather than an arrest or citation.
Explain the factors necessary for the commission of a crime (I.e., the Crime Triangle). - CORRECT
ANSWER-1. Desire
2. Victim
3. Opportunity
Desire=Motivation
Victim= Potential target
Opportunity= Unlocked doors, plain view valuables
((Removal of just one of these factors make a commission unsuccessful.))
State the core concepts of community policing. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Partnership between police & the
community
2. Crime prevention
3. Organizational change in the agency
,4. Problem solving approach (protective police role)
List considerations for off duty situations. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Behavior
2. Situational awareness
3. Be a good witness
Explain the generally accepted ethical responsibilities of peace officers. - CORRECT ANSWER-Acting w/
integrity & treating everyone professionally.
List external and internal influences on behavior. - CORRECT ANSWER-External: Relationships, media,
dept. regulations, local citizens, inter-debt politics, police subculture.
Internal: Moral beliefs & values, anger, lust, greed, rationalizations.
Explain the Continuum of Compromise. - CORRECT ANSWER-The process of becoming unethical:
1. Sense of victimization
2. Sense of entitlement
3. Acts of omissions --> Acts of commission
Explain the steps in the decision making model and the application of PLUS filters. - CORRECT ANSWER-
Decision making model:
1. Define problem
2. Alternative solutions available to address problem
3. Evaluate; List pro's & con's
4. Decide on which one you'll use
5. Implement
6. Evaluate again.
PLUS Filters:
P- policies: Is it consistent with my agency's policy?
,L- Legal: Is the action lawful?
U- Universal: Conform to universal principles & values?
S- Self: Does it align w/ my beliefs?
State the purposes of the Bill of Rights. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. To protect individual freedom.
2.Prevent government from interfering w/ protected rights.
Describe the major components of the criminal justice system. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Law enforcement
--> keeps peace & prevents crime.
2. Courts
--> Determines guilt or innocence.
3. Corrections
--> Supervises offenders.
List goals of sentencing. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Punish offender & rehabilitate
2. Protect society
3. Restore the victim
List the general elements of a crime. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Act- "Actus Reus"
2. Culpable mental state- "Mens Rea"
3. Concurrence- Mental state must be present
4. Causation- Actions bring about prohibited harm
, 5. Conditions- List specific conditions in an act that makes the crime.
Define the culpable mental states "purposely", "knowingly", "recklessly", and "negligently". - CORRECT
ANSWER-1. Purposely: Specific intent
2. Knowingly: Person is aware
3. Recklessly: Person disregards a risk
4. Negligently: Fails to perceive & avoid risk
Identify the R.C. 2923.02 offense of Attempt to Commit an Offense according to its elements. - CORRECT
ANSWER-*Attempt of an offense is the same degree if you were to complete it.
"No person, purposely or knowingly, & when purpose or knowledge is sufficient culpability for the
commission of an offense, shall engage in conduct that, if successful, would constitute or result in the
offense."
Describe the purpose of the 4th Amendment. - CORRECT ANSWER-To guarantee rights relating to
arrests, searches, and seizures of persons.
Breakdown:
- Unreasonable searches are prohibited
- Must have probable cause
- Must have Oath or affirmation
- Warrant describes who and what will be searched.
Describe the relationship between the degrees of suspicion and the responses allowed by the
Constitution. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt
-->May be convicted
Answer (2024-2025)
List a peace officer's main goals. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Enforce laws
2. Preserve peace
3. Prevent crime
4. Protect civil rights & liberties
5. Provide services
Explain items to consider when exercising discretion. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Use sound judgement to
determine which laws are to be formally enforced.
2.Determine if there is a more constructive remedy rather than an arrest or citation.
Explain the factors necessary for the commission of a crime (I.e., the Crime Triangle). - CORRECT
ANSWER-1. Desire
2. Victim
3. Opportunity
Desire=Motivation
Victim= Potential target
Opportunity= Unlocked doors, plain view valuables
((Removal of just one of these factors make a commission unsuccessful.))
State the core concepts of community policing. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Partnership between police & the
community
2. Crime prevention
3. Organizational change in the agency
,4. Problem solving approach (protective police role)
List considerations for off duty situations. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Behavior
2. Situational awareness
3. Be a good witness
Explain the generally accepted ethical responsibilities of peace officers. - CORRECT ANSWER-Acting w/
integrity & treating everyone professionally.
List external and internal influences on behavior. - CORRECT ANSWER-External: Relationships, media,
dept. regulations, local citizens, inter-debt politics, police subculture.
Internal: Moral beliefs & values, anger, lust, greed, rationalizations.
Explain the Continuum of Compromise. - CORRECT ANSWER-The process of becoming unethical:
1. Sense of victimization
2. Sense of entitlement
3. Acts of omissions --> Acts of commission
Explain the steps in the decision making model and the application of PLUS filters. - CORRECT ANSWER-
Decision making model:
1. Define problem
2. Alternative solutions available to address problem
3. Evaluate; List pro's & con's
4. Decide on which one you'll use
5. Implement
6. Evaluate again.
PLUS Filters:
P- policies: Is it consistent with my agency's policy?
,L- Legal: Is the action lawful?
U- Universal: Conform to universal principles & values?
S- Self: Does it align w/ my beliefs?
State the purposes of the Bill of Rights. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. To protect individual freedom.
2.Prevent government from interfering w/ protected rights.
Describe the major components of the criminal justice system. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Law enforcement
--> keeps peace & prevents crime.
2. Courts
--> Determines guilt or innocence.
3. Corrections
--> Supervises offenders.
List goals of sentencing. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Punish offender & rehabilitate
2. Protect society
3. Restore the victim
List the general elements of a crime. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Act- "Actus Reus"
2. Culpable mental state- "Mens Rea"
3. Concurrence- Mental state must be present
4. Causation- Actions bring about prohibited harm
, 5. Conditions- List specific conditions in an act that makes the crime.
Define the culpable mental states "purposely", "knowingly", "recklessly", and "negligently". - CORRECT
ANSWER-1. Purposely: Specific intent
2. Knowingly: Person is aware
3. Recklessly: Person disregards a risk
4. Negligently: Fails to perceive & avoid risk
Identify the R.C. 2923.02 offense of Attempt to Commit an Offense according to its elements. - CORRECT
ANSWER-*Attempt of an offense is the same degree if you were to complete it.
"No person, purposely or knowingly, & when purpose or knowledge is sufficient culpability for the
commission of an offense, shall engage in conduct that, if successful, would constitute or result in the
offense."
Describe the purpose of the 4th Amendment. - CORRECT ANSWER-To guarantee rights relating to
arrests, searches, and seizures of persons.
Breakdown:
- Unreasonable searches are prohibited
- Must have probable cause
- Must have Oath or affirmation
- Warrant describes who and what will be searched.
Describe the relationship between the degrees of suspicion and the responses allowed by the
Constitution. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt
-->May be convicted
