MPTC Police Academy Criminal Law Review
2026/2027 – 200+ Exam Questions &
Answers | Larceny, Arrest Authority, Assault,
Domestic Violence, Drugs, Firearms, Burglary
& Massachusetts Criminal Law
1. What are the six types of intent recognized in Massachusetts criminal law?
A) General, specific, criminal, negligent, reckless, and purposeful
B) General, specific, malicious, strict liability, recklessness, and negligence
C) General, specific, criminal, malicious, purposeful, and knowing
D) Intentional, knowing, reckless, negligent, strict, and purposeful
Answer B: General, specific, malicious, strict liability, recklessness, and negligence
Rationale: These six types of intent form the foundation of mens rea in Massachusetts criminal law.
2. What are the five powers of arrest?
A) Warrant, felony, misdemeanor in presence (statute), misdemeanor in presence (breach of peace),
misdemeanor in past (statute)
B) Warrant, felony, misdemeanor in presence, probable cause, and reasonable suspicion
C) Felony, misdemeanor, breach of peace, statutory, and common law
D) Warrant, probable cause, reasonable suspicion, felony, and misdemeanor
Answer A: Warrant, felony, misdemeanor in presence (statute), misdemeanor in presence (breach
of peace), misdemeanor in past (statute)
Rationale: These are the five powers of arrest under Massachusetts law.
3. Define conspiracy.
A) Two or more people planning a crime but failing to commit it
,B) Two or more people agreeing to commit a crime
C) One person soliciting another to commit a crime
D) An overt act toward committing a crime
Answer B: Two or more people agreeing to commit a crime
Rationale: Conspiracy requires an agreement between two or more persons to commit an unlawful act.
4. What is the statute of limitations for murder?
A) 10 years
B) 15 years
C) 27 years
D) There are no limitations
Answer D: There are no limitations
Rationale: Murder has no statute of limitations in Massachusetts.
5. In order to convict someone of armed burglary, they must be armed when they enter and/or: E)
All the above are true Answer E: All the above are true
A) Arm themselves after entry
B) Commit an assault
C) It must be in the nighttime
D) Into a dwelling
Rationale: Armed burglary includes entering a dwelling at night, being armed at entry or arming after
entry, and committing an assault.
6. You observe a man walking down the street. He looks around then enters a yard and takes a
pink flamingo lawn ornament. It still has the $29.99 price tag on it. What is the strongest police
action you can take?
A) Summons the individual for larceny under
B) Arrest the person for larceny over
,C) Arrest the person for larceny under
D) Summons the person for larceny over
Answer C: Arrest the person for larceny under
Rationale: Larceny of property valued under $1,200 is a misdemeanor but arrestable when committed in
presence.
7. When does larceny become a felony?
A) If the property is valued at $250 or over
B) If the property is a firearm
C) If it occurs in your presence
D) Only if it is a second offense
Answer B: If the property is a firearm
Rationale: Larceny of a firearm is always a felony regardless of value.
8. What are the statute of limitations for adult sexual offenses?
A) 6 years
B) 10 years
C) 15 years
D) 27 years
Answer C: 15 years
Rationale: Adult sexual offenses have a 15-year statute of limitations.
9. What charge applies when someone forcibly grabs a cup of change from another person's hand?
A) Armed robbery
B) Unarmed robbery
C) Panhandling
D) Larceny from a building
Answer B: Unarmed robbery
, Rationale: Taking property from a person by force or threat of immediate force constitutes robbery,
even without a weapon.
10. If the victim of a sexual offense was under 16 at the time of the crime, when does the statute
of limitations begin?
A) At the time of the offense
B) At the time of reporting
C) Period does not begin until victim reaches age of 16, or violation is reported to LE, whichever happens
first
D) At the time of conviction
Answer C: Period does not begin until victim reaches age of 16, or violation is reported to LE,
whichever happens first
Rationale: Special tolling provisions apply for child victims of sexual offenses.
11. A person taken into protective custody as an incapacitated person may be held:
A) Until they are sober or up to 6 hours
B) Until they are sober or up to 12 hours
C) Until they are sober; no matter how long it takes
D) Until shift change or the bars close
Answer B: Until they are sober or up to 12 hours
Rationale: Protective custody holds are limited to 12 hours or until sobriety, whichever comes first.
12. What is the presumptive level of intoxication for protective custody?
A) .01
B) .05
C) .08
D) .10
Answer D: .10
2026/2027 – 200+ Exam Questions &
Answers | Larceny, Arrest Authority, Assault,
Domestic Violence, Drugs, Firearms, Burglary
& Massachusetts Criminal Law
1. What are the six types of intent recognized in Massachusetts criminal law?
A) General, specific, criminal, negligent, reckless, and purposeful
B) General, specific, malicious, strict liability, recklessness, and negligence
C) General, specific, criminal, malicious, purposeful, and knowing
D) Intentional, knowing, reckless, negligent, strict, and purposeful
Answer B: General, specific, malicious, strict liability, recklessness, and negligence
Rationale: These six types of intent form the foundation of mens rea in Massachusetts criminal law.
2. What are the five powers of arrest?
A) Warrant, felony, misdemeanor in presence (statute), misdemeanor in presence (breach of peace),
misdemeanor in past (statute)
B) Warrant, felony, misdemeanor in presence, probable cause, and reasonable suspicion
C) Felony, misdemeanor, breach of peace, statutory, and common law
D) Warrant, probable cause, reasonable suspicion, felony, and misdemeanor
Answer A: Warrant, felony, misdemeanor in presence (statute), misdemeanor in presence (breach
of peace), misdemeanor in past (statute)
Rationale: These are the five powers of arrest under Massachusetts law.
3. Define conspiracy.
A) Two or more people planning a crime but failing to commit it
,B) Two or more people agreeing to commit a crime
C) One person soliciting another to commit a crime
D) An overt act toward committing a crime
Answer B: Two or more people agreeing to commit a crime
Rationale: Conspiracy requires an agreement between two or more persons to commit an unlawful act.
4. What is the statute of limitations for murder?
A) 10 years
B) 15 years
C) 27 years
D) There are no limitations
Answer D: There are no limitations
Rationale: Murder has no statute of limitations in Massachusetts.
5. In order to convict someone of armed burglary, they must be armed when they enter and/or: E)
All the above are true Answer E: All the above are true
A) Arm themselves after entry
B) Commit an assault
C) It must be in the nighttime
D) Into a dwelling
Rationale: Armed burglary includes entering a dwelling at night, being armed at entry or arming after
entry, and committing an assault.
6. You observe a man walking down the street. He looks around then enters a yard and takes a
pink flamingo lawn ornament. It still has the $29.99 price tag on it. What is the strongest police
action you can take?
A) Summons the individual for larceny under
B) Arrest the person for larceny over
,C) Arrest the person for larceny under
D) Summons the person for larceny over
Answer C: Arrest the person for larceny under
Rationale: Larceny of property valued under $1,200 is a misdemeanor but arrestable when committed in
presence.
7. When does larceny become a felony?
A) If the property is valued at $250 or over
B) If the property is a firearm
C) If it occurs in your presence
D) Only if it is a second offense
Answer B: If the property is a firearm
Rationale: Larceny of a firearm is always a felony regardless of value.
8. What are the statute of limitations for adult sexual offenses?
A) 6 years
B) 10 years
C) 15 years
D) 27 years
Answer C: 15 years
Rationale: Adult sexual offenses have a 15-year statute of limitations.
9. What charge applies when someone forcibly grabs a cup of change from another person's hand?
A) Armed robbery
B) Unarmed robbery
C) Panhandling
D) Larceny from a building
Answer B: Unarmed robbery
, Rationale: Taking property from a person by force or threat of immediate force constitutes robbery,
even without a weapon.
10. If the victim of a sexual offense was under 16 at the time of the crime, when does the statute
of limitations begin?
A) At the time of the offense
B) At the time of reporting
C) Period does not begin until victim reaches age of 16, or violation is reported to LE, whichever happens
first
D) At the time of conviction
Answer C: Period does not begin until victim reaches age of 16, or violation is reported to LE,
whichever happens first
Rationale: Special tolling provisions apply for child victims of sexual offenses.
11. A person taken into protective custody as an incapacitated person may be held:
A) Until they are sober or up to 6 hours
B) Until they are sober or up to 12 hours
C) Until they are sober; no matter how long it takes
D) Until shift change or the bars close
Answer B: Until they are sober or up to 12 hours
Rationale: Protective custody holds are limited to 12 hours or until sobriety, whichever comes first.
12. What is the presumptive level of intoxication for protective custody?
A) .01
B) .05
C) .08
D) .10
Answer D: .10
