SOCE PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025/2026 GRADED A+
✔✔Judge - ✔✔is authorized to preside over the courtroom and to decide questions of
law brought before the court.
✔✔Court administrator - ✔✔is responsible for the day-to-day functioning of a court
system.
✔✔Perjury - ✔✔may be defined as a false statement that a person makes under oath
but does not believe to be true.
✔✔Discrimination - ✔✔is the negative behavior toward a person or group that is based
on color, race, sex, age, religion, ethnic and national origin, handicap, and/or marital
status.
✔✔Sexual harassment - ✔✔is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for
sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. The courts have
held that intent is not a factor in determining what constitutes sexual harassment.
✔✔U.S. Supreme Court - ✔✔is the highest court in the United States and the chief
authority in the judicial branch—one of three branches of the U.S. federal government.
Hears appeals from the decisions of lower federal courts and state supreme courts, and
it resolves issues of constitutional and federal law. Its decisions can be changed only by
a constitutional amendment. The most important responsibility is to decide cases that
raise questions of constitutional interpretation.
✔✔County and Municipal Holding Facilities - ✔✔These facilities provide a place for
detainees while booking procedures are completed or until they can be transported to a
county jail.
✔✔County Jails - ✔✔are used for booking and temporary detention of defendants
awaiting trial or disposition on federal or state charges and of convicted offenders
sentenced to short-term detention (a year or less).
✔✔Juvenile Assessment/Detention Center - ✔✔Juvenile suspects are taken to this
center for processing and possible pretrial detention.
✔✔Prisons (federal and state) - ✔✔are correctional institutions maintained by the
federal and state governments for the confinement of convicted felons.
✔✔Evaluation and Treatment Centers - ✔✔are the first stop when entering the prison
system. In addition to general processing procedures, these facilities administer various
tests to offenders (e.g., medical, education aptitude). Treatment centers deal with
alcohol/drug abusers or mentally ill offenders
,✔✔Parole - ✔✔is the release of an inmate from a correctional institution prior to the
conclusion of the inmate's court-imposed sentence.
✔✔Community control (house arrest) - ✔✔is a form of closely monitored community
supervision and is more restrictive than probation or parole.
✔✔CJSTC (Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission) - ✔✔was created to
oversee the certification, employment, training, maintenance of officer records, and
conduct of Florida law enforcement, correctional, and correctional probation officers.
✔✔The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) - ✔✔enforces
federal laws and regulations relating to alcohol and tobacco products, firearms and
explosives, and acts of arson.
✔✔Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) - ✔✔enforces the controlled substances
laws and regulations of the United States and recommends and supports non-
enforcement programs aimed at reducing the availability of illicit controlled substances
in the domestic and international markets.
✔✔Florida Supreme Court - ✔✔The highest court in the state of Florida, which consists
of seven justices who are appointed by the governor. Hears cases including final orders
imposing death sentences and appeals from lower state courts.
✔✔Years to get hired - ✔✔4
✔✔Vertical Communication - ✔✔the information that flows down through the
supervision level to the lowest levels of the organization
✔✔Law enforcement - ✔✔is responsible for the enforcement of laws and maintaining
civil order.
✔✔Court system - ✔✔is responsible for the interpretation of laws.
✔✔Corrections - ✔✔is responsible for enforcing punishment as defined by the court
system.
✔✔Requirements to be a police officer - ✔✔• be at least 19
• citizen of US
• high school grad or equal
• have processed fingerprints on file with employing agency
• passed a physical examination by a licensed physician based on specifications
established by the Commission
• submit an affidavit attesting to compliance
• satisfactorily completed a Commission approved course of basic recruit training
,• have satisfactorily passed a state examination in the respective specialty
• not have been convicted of any felony or of a misdemeanor which involves perjury or a
false statement, regardless of withholding of adjudication or suspended sentence
• not have recieved a dishonorable discharge from any of the Armed Forces of the
United States
• meet all the minimum requirements and standards
• complete the approved basic recruit training
• pass the State Officer Certification Examination
• become actively employed with a law enforcement agency in an auxiliary, part-time, or
full-time sworn officer position
✔✔Things you may be disciplined for by the commission - ✔✔• Pleads nolo contendere,
pleads guilty, or is found guilty of any felony
• Pleads nolo contendere, pleads guilty, or is found guilty of a misdemeanor involving
perjury or false statement
• Fails to maintain good moral character
• Commits any act constituting a felony offense, regardless of criminal prosecution
• Commits any act constituting any of a specified group of serious misdemeanor
offenses, regardless of criminal prosecution
• Commits any principal, accessory, attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy, pursuant to
chapter 777, Florida Statutes, where there would have been a felony offense had the
crime been committed or completed
• Commits any act in any jurisdiction other than the state of Florida, which if committed
in the state of Florida, would constitute a felony, any of the specified serious
misdemeanors, or a violation of chapter 777, Florida statutes
• Tests positive for controlled substances by a urine or blood test, in accordance with
the requirements for testing reliability and integrity set forth
• Commits an act of excessive use of force under color of authority
• Engages in sexual harassment involving physical contact or misuse of official position
• Misuses the official position
• Engages in sex while on duty
• Has unprofessional relationships with an inmate, detainee, probationer, parolee, or
community controlee; has written or oral communication that is intended to facilitate
conduct which is prohibited by Commission rule; engages in any physical contact not
required in the performance of official duties that is normally associated with the
demonstration of affection or sexual misconduct
• Makes false statements during the employment process
• Subverts or attempts to subvert the officer certification examination process pursuant
• Subverts or attempts to subvert the CJSTC-approved training examinati
✔✔FL County Courts - ✔✔• Florida County Courts: The 67 county courts have limited
jurisdiction and handle the following legal issues:
o minor criminal offenses (misdemeanors), which provide a maximum sentence of one
year or less in the county jail
o county and municipal ordinance violations, including traffic infractions (some counties
use hearing officers for these cases)
, o civil cases involving amounts of $15,000 or less and small claims disputes (less than
$5,000)
o the issuance of search and arrest warrants within the county
✔✔4 Levels of law enforcement agencies in the US - ✔✔Municipal (Police
Departments, Public Safety Departments), County (Sheriff's Office), State (FDLE, FHP),
Federal(ATF, DEA)
✔✔Civil law - ✔✔is the legal action that a person takes to resolve a private dispute with
another person.
✔✔Case law - ✔✔is formed by the decisions of the court system (the judicial branch).
✔✔Probable cause - ✔✔The standard of justification required to make an arrest or
conduct a search
✔✔Reasonable suspicion - ✔✔is the standard of justification needed to support a legal
Terry stop or investigative detention. Is sometimes called "articulable suspicion" or
"founded suspicion." All three terms simply mean that an officer can articulate, or put
into words, facts that support a suspicion that the person stopped may be involved in a
law violation.
✔✔Documentary Evidence - ✔✔anything written or printed which is o ered to prove or
disprove facts pertaining to a case in court (Legal)
✔✔Testimonial evidence - ✔✔is witness statements tending to prove or disprove facts
about the case.
✔✔Contraband - ✔✔is anything that is illegal to possess.
✔✔mental incompetence - ✔✔recognizes that a criminal defendant will be judged on his
or her present ability to assist counsel by participating in the criminal defense.
✔✔Self-defense - ✔✔is a common legal term that describes the justifiable use of force
that is necessary to protect oneself. This same legal term also describes the justifiable
use of force necessary for the defense of others.
✔✔duress or coercion - ✔✔A person who faces a threat from another and commits a
criminal act in response
✔✔Mistake or ignorance of fact - ✔✔is a legal defense that is used when the accused
does not possess the mental state required to commit a criminal offense because of a
reasonably mistaken belief about the facts relating to the circumstances.
2025/2026 GRADED A+
✔✔Judge - ✔✔is authorized to preside over the courtroom and to decide questions of
law brought before the court.
✔✔Court administrator - ✔✔is responsible for the day-to-day functioning of a court
system.
✔✔Perjury - ✔✔may be defined as a false statement that a person makes under oath
but does not believe to be true.
✔✔Discrimination - ✔✔is the negative behavior toward a person or group that is based
on color, race, sex, age, religion, ethnic and national origin, handicap, and/or marital
status.
✔✔Sexual harassment - ✔✔is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for
sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. The courts have
held that intent is not a factor in determining what constitutes sexual harassment.
✔✔U.S. Supreme Court - ✔✔is the highest court in the United States and the chief
authority in the judicial branch—one of three branches of the U.S. federal government.
Hears appeals from the decisions of lower federal courts and state supreme courts, and
it resolves issues of constitutional and federal law. Its decisions can be changed only by
a constitutional amendment. The most important responsibility is to decide cases that
raise questions of constitutional interpretation.
✔✔County and Municipal Holding Facilities - ✔✔These facilities provide a place for
detainees while booking procedures are completed or until they can be transported to a
county jail.
✔✔County Jails - ✔✔are used for booking and temporary detention of defendants
awaiting trial or disposition on federal or state charges and of convicted offenders
sentenced to short-term detention (a year or less).
✔✔Juvenile Assessment/Detention Center - ✔✔Juvenile suspects are taken to this
center for processing and possible pretrial detention.
✔✔Prisons (federal and state) - ✔✔are correctional institutions maintained by the
federal and state governments for the confinement of convicted felons.
✔✔Evaluation and Treatment Centers - ✔✔are the first stop when entering the prison
system. In addition to general processing procedures, these facilities administer various
tests to offenders (e.g., medical, education aptitude). Treatment centers deal with
alcohol/drug abusers or mentally ill offenders
,✔✔Parole - ✔✔is the release of an inmate from a correctional institution prior to the
conclusion of the inmate's court-imposed sentence.
✔✔Community control (house arrest) - ✔✔is a form of closely monitored community
supervision and is more restrictive than probation or parole.
✔✔CJSTC (Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission) - ✔✔was created to
oversee the certification, employment, training, maintenance of officer records, and
conduct of Florida law enforcement, correctional, and correctional probation officers.
✔✔The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) - ✔✔enforces
federal laws and regulations relating to alcohol and tobacco products, firearms and
explosives, and acts of arson.
✔✔Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) - ✔✔enforces the controlled substances
laws and regulations of the United States and recommends and supports non-
enforcement programs aimed at reducing the availability of illicit controlled substances
in the domestic and international markets.
✔✔Florida Supreme Court - ✔✔The highest court in the state of Florida, which consists
of seven justices who are appointed by the governor. Hears cases including final orders
imposing death sentences and appeals from lower state courts.
✔✔Years to get hired - ✔✔4
✔✔Vertical Communication - ✔✔the information that flows down through the
supervision level to the lowest levels of the organization
✔✔Law enforcement - ✔✔is responsible for the enforcement of laws and maintaining
civil order.
✔✔Court system - ✔✔is responsible for the interpretation of laws.
✔✔Corrections - ✔✔is responsible for enforcing punishment as defined by the court
system.
✔✔Requirements to be a police officer - ✔✔• be at least 19
• citizen of US
• high school grad or equal
• have processed fingerprints on file with employing agency
• passed a physical examination by a licensed physician based on specifications
established by the Commission
• submit an affidavit attesting to compliance
• satisfactorily completed a Commission approved course of basic recruit training
,• have satisfactorily passed a state examination in the respective specialty
• not have been convicted of any felony or of a misdemeanor which involves perjury or a
false statement, regardless of withholding of adjudication or suspended sentence
• not have recieved a dishonorable discharge from any of the Armed Forces of the
United States
• meet all the minimum requirements and standards
• complete the approved basic recruit training
• pass the State Officer Certification Examination
• become actively employed with a law enforcement agency in an auxiliary, part-time, or
full-time sworn officer position
✔✔Things you may be disciplined for by the commission - ✔✔• Pleads nolo contendere,
pleads guilty, or is found guilty of any felony
• Pleads nolo contendere, pleads guilty, or is found guilty of a misdemeanor involving
perjury or false statement
• Fails to maintain good moral character
• Commits any act constituting a felony offense, regardless of criminal prosecution
• Commits any act constituting any of a specified group of serious misdemeanor
offenses, regardless of criminal prosecution
• Commits any principal, accessory, attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy, pursuant to
chapter 777, Florida Statutes, where there would have been a felony offense had the
crime been committed or completed
• Commits any act in any jurisdiction other than the state of Florida, which if committed
in the state of Florida, would constitute a felony, any of the specified serious
misdemeanors, or a violation of chapter 777, Florida statutes
• Tests positive for controlled substances by a urine or blood test, in accordance with
the requirements for testing reliability and integrity set forth
• Commits an act of excessive use of force under color of authority
• Engages in sexual harassment involving physical contact or misuse of official position
• Misuses the official position
• Engages in sex while on duty
• Has unprofessional relationships with an inmate, detainee, probationer, parolee, or
community controlee; has written or oral communication that is intended to facilitate
conduct which is prohibited by Commission rule; engages in any physical contact not
required in the performance of official duties that is normally associated with the
demonstration of affection or sexual misconduct
• Makes false statements during the employment process
• Subverts or attempts to subvert the officer certification examination process pursuant
• Subverts or attempts to subvert the CJSTC-approved training examinati
✔✔FL County Courts - ✔✔• Florida County Courts: The 67 county courts have limited
jurisdiction and handle the following legal issues:
o minor criminal offenses (misdemeanors), which provide a maximum sentence of one
year or less in the county jail
o county and municipal ordinance violations, including traffic infractions (some counties
use hearing officers for these cases)
, o civil cases involving amounts of $15,000 or less and small claims disputes (less than
$5,000)
o the issuance of search and arrest warrants within the county
✔✔4 Levels of law enforcement agencies in the US - ✔✔Municipal (Police
Departments, Public Safety Departments), County (Sheriff's Office), State (FDLE, FHP),
Federal(ATF, DEA)
✔✔Civil law - ✔✔is the legal action that a person takes to resolve a private dispute with
another person.
✔✔Case law - ✔✔is formed by the decisions of the court system (the judicial branch).
✔✔Probable cause - ✔✔The standard of justification required to make an arrest or
conduct a search
✔✔Reasonable suspicion - ✔✔is the standard of justification needed to support a legal
Terry stop or investigative detention. Is sometimes called "articulable suspicion" or
"founded suspicion." All three terms simply mean that an officer can articulate, or put
into words, facts that support a suspicion that the person stopped may be involved in a
law violation.
✔✔Documentary Evidence - ✔✔anything written or printed which is o ered to prove or
disprove facts pertaining to a case in court (Legal)
✔✔Testimonial evidence - ✔✔is witness statements tending to prove or disprove facts
about the case.
✔✔Contraband - ✔✔is anything that is illegal to possess.
✔✔mental incompetence - ✔✔recognizes that a criminal defendant will be judged on his
or her present ability to assist counsel by participating in the criminal defense.
✔✔Self-defense - ✔✔is a common legal term that describes the justifiable use of force
that is necessary to protect oneself. This same legal term also describes the justifiable
use of force necessary for the defense of others.
✔✔duress or coercion - ✔✔A person who faces a threat from another and commits a
criminal act in response
✔✔Mistake or ignorance of fact - ✔✔is a legal defense that is used when the accused
does not possess the mental state required to commit a criminal offense because of a
reasonably mistaken belief about the facts relating to the circumstances.
