Constitutional Law
What is the Fourth Amendment?
This Constitutional Amendment protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizure
What is patrol
The routine daily duty of officers walking or driving through an assigned geographic area
What is the FBI
This premier federal investigative agency falls under the Department of Justice DOJ
What is murder
The unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought
What is a fingerprint
This is the unique pattern of ridges on human fingers, which remains one of the most common ways to identify a suspect
What is Miranda v. Arizona?
This famous 1966 Supreme Court case established the requirement to advise suspects of their rights before interrogation
(What is briefing / roll call?)
A brief operational meeting that officers attend before starting their shift
What is the U.S. Marshals Service
This federal agency is responsible for court security, serving federal warrants, and managing fugitive operations
What are property crimes
Shoplifting, vandalism, and trespassing fall under this broad classification of offenses that do not typically target a person
What is DNA
This biological blueprint, found in blood, saliva, and hair roots, can definitively link a suspect to a crime scene
What is reasonable suspicion?
allows police officers to briefly stop and detain a person if they have specific, articulable facts suggesting criminal activity
What is the fatal funnel
: This narrow, exposed entryway leading through a doorway during a building search is known by this dangerous tactical term
What is ICE / Immigration and Customs Enforcement
This Department of Homeland Security DHS agency handles immigration enforcement and border security investigations
What is Modus Operandi or M.O.
This term describes a criminal's distinct method of operation or pattern of behavior
What is Luminol
This chemical is sprayed at a crime scene to detect trace amounts of blood by glowing blue under a dark light, even if the area has been washed
What is probable cause
This standard of proof is legally required for a police officer to make an arrest or obtain a search warrant
What is LIDAR/laser?)
This handheld speed-measuring device uses light detection and ranging
What is INTERPOL
This international organization facilitates cross-border police cooperation and crime-fighting data sharing among member countries
What is the crime triangle
The visual learning aid used in criminology shaped as a three-sided polygon containing ability, motive, and opportunity
What is the Chain of Custody
This document tracks the chronological history of who handled, transferred, and stored a piece of evidence to ensure it isn't tampered with
What is the Exclusionary Rule
This legal rule dictates that evidence collected or analyzed in violation of the defendant's constitutional rights is inadmissible in court
What is the need/immediacy of apprehending the suspect versus the risk of the chase
According to standard pursuit policies, an officer must weigh the immediate danger to the public against this factor before chasing a vehicle
What are slave patrols
This historic antebellum regional system formed the earliest roots of organized American policing in the South
What is the Blue Wall of Silence
This unwritten code among some police circles discourages reporting the misconduct of fellow officers
What is ballistics
This branch of forensics deals with the study of firearms, bullets, and the marks left on ammunition when a weapon is fired