Louisiana POST Level 1 flashcards
Louisiana POST Level 1 · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Probable Cause
- A set of facts and circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe an offense has been, is being, or will be committed, justifying an arrest or search.
- Reasonable Suspicion
- Specific and articulable facts suggesting criminal activity is afoot, supporting a brief investigative detention under Terry v. Ohio.
- Miranda Warning
- Required advisement of the right to remain silent, right to counsel, and that statements may be used against the suspect before custodial interrogation.
- Exclusionary Rule
- A rule barring use at trial of evidence obtained through unconstitutional search or seizure, deterring law enforcement misconduct.
- Terry Frisk
- A limited pat-down of outer clothing for weapons, permitted when reasonable suspicion exists that a detained person is armed and dangerous.
- Search Incident to Arrest
- A warrantless search of the arrestee's person and the area within immediate reach, justified by officer safety and evidence preservation.
- Graham v. Connor
- Supreme Court decision establishing the objective reasonableness standard for assessing use of force under the Fourth Amendment.
- Deadly Force
- Force reasonably likely to cause death or great bodily harm, justified only to prevent imminent death or serious injury or a forcible felony.
- Force Continuum
- A graduated framework of response options from officer presence through verbal control, physical control, intermediate weapons, and deadly force.
- Positional Asphyxia
- Death or injury from restricted breathing caused by body position, such as prone restraint; monitor and reposition restrained persons promptly.
- Duty to Intervene
- An officer's obligation to stop excessive force or misconduct by another officer and report it to a supervisor.
- Noble Cause Corruption
- Using illegal or unethical means to achieve a perceived good outcome, such as fabricating evidence to convict a suspect.
- Law Enforcement Code of Ethics
- A professional standard committing officers to integrity, public service, and lawful conduct on and off duty.
- Procedural Justice
- A framework of fair process emphasizing voice, neutrality, respect, and trustworthy motives to build public legitimacy.
- Bias-Free Policing
- The practice of making enforcement decisions based on behavior and evidence rather than race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or national origin.
- SARA Model
- A problem-solving method using scanning, analysis, response, and assessment to address recurring community problems.
- Chain of Custody
- A documented, unbroken record of who collected, handled, transferred, and stored evidence from collection through trial.
- Locard's Exchange Principle
- The principle that every contact between persons or objects leaves a trace, transferring material in both directions.
- Direct Evidence
- Evidence that directly proves a fact without inference, such as eyewitness testimony or a confession.
- Circumstantial Evidence
- Evidence requiring inference to connect it to a fact, such as fingerprints or motive, rather than direct observation.
- Skid Distance Formula
- Speed in mph equals the square root of 30 times the drag factor times skid distance in feet.
- Implied Consent
- The legal presumption that a driver lawfully arrested for impaired driving consents to chemical testing, with refusal carrying license consequences.
- HGN Test
- Horizontal gaze nystagmus, a standardized field sobriety test measuring involuntary eye jerking to indicate impairment.
- Report Writing Elements
- A complete narrative covering who, what, when, where, why, and how, written in first person, past tense, active voice.
- Contemporaneous Notes
- Field notes made at the time of the incident, preserved and consistent with the final report because they may be discoverable.
- Supplemental Report
- A follow-up document recording information discovered, evidence submitted, or actions taken after the initial report was filed.
- Pursuit Termination
- Ending a vehicle pursuit when the risk to the public outweighs the need for apprehension, documented with the reason.
- Due Regard
- The statutory duty of an emergency vehicle operator to drive with reasonable care for the safety of others despite emergency privileges.
- Threshold Braking
- Applying brake pressure just short of wheel lock to maximize stopping force while retaining steering control.
- Tourniquet Application
- Applying a tourniquet high and tight on an injured limb when direct pressure fails to control life-threatening bleeding.
- CPR Compression Rate
- Chest compressions delivered at 100 to 120 per minute with a depth of at least two inches for an adult.
- Four Firearm Safety Rules
- Treat every gun as loaded, never point at anything you are unwilling to destroy, keep your finger off the trigger until ready, and know your target.