PA Act 120 MPOETC cheat sheet

Summary offense maximum in PA: 90 days' imprisonment and a $300 fine. Misdemeanor 3rd: 1 year/$2,500; 2nd: 2 years/$5,000; 1st: 5 years/$10,000.

Felony grading in PA: 3rd degree 7 years/$15,000; 2nd degree 10 years/$25,000; 1st degree 20 years/$25,000.

Mens rea hierarchy under 18 Pa.C.S. § 302: intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, negligently. Each element of an offense must be proven at the level the statute specifies.

Warrantless arrest, Pa.R.Crim.P. 502: any felony on probable cause; misdemeanor or summary offense only when the offense is committed in the officer's presence.

Domestic violence exception, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6113: an officer may arrest without a warrant on probable cause even when the offense did not occur in the officer's presence.

Statute of limitations, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5552: generally 2 years; 5 years for listed major offenses; 12 years for major sexual offenses; no limit for murder.

Miranda triggers only on custodial interrogation. Custody = a reasonable person would not feel free to leave; interrogation = words or actions reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response.

Investigatory detention requires reasonable suspicion; a protective frisk requires reasonable suspicion the person is armed and dangerous.

Vehicle search incident to arrest (Arizona v. Gant): limited to the arrestee's reaching distance or where evidence of the offense of arrest is likely to be found.

Vehicle stop authority, 75 Pa.C.S. § 6308(b): reasonable suspicion that a Vehicle Code or other law violation is occurring or has occurred.

Emergency vehicle privileges, 75 Pa.C.S. § 3105: exceed speed limits, proceed past red signals after slowing, disregard directional signals - only with audible and visual signals, and never relieved of the duty of due care.

High-risk (felony) stop sequence: stop the vehicle, take cover with emergency lighting on, give commands over the PA, remove occupants one at a time walking backward, handcuff and search each before moving to the next.

Lookout/BOLO content: offense, head-to-toe suspect description, vehicle by CYMBALS (Color, Year, Make, Body, Accessories, License, State), direction of travel, weapon, time elapsed.

Building search: establish perimeter containment before entry, use two-officer teams with a designated point officer, clear corners and closets, and move deliberately rather than quickly.

Pursuit decision rule: weigh severity of the offense, risk to the public, speed and road conditions, and availability of alternatives; terminate when the risk outweighs the need for immediate apprehension.

Domestic disturbance response: separate the parties, locate and secure weapons, identify the predominant aggressor, photograph injuries and scene, and document statements separately.

Radio procedure: identify the unit and the addressee, use clear plain language, and wait for acknowledgment before transmitting lengthy information.

Chain of custody must show every handler, date, time, and purpose so the item can be shown unchanged from seizure to trial; any gap invites a challenge to admissibility.

Biological evidence: air-dry before packaging and use paper, not plastic - sealed plastic traps moisture and causes mold and degradation.

Drug evidence: field-test, weigh and record the weight, package each item separately, and submit with a written lab request referencing the case number.

Crime scene: secure and start an entry log, photograph before anything is moved, and measure with baseline or triangulation methods; rough sketch need not be to scale, finished sketch is to scale.

Minimum speed from skid marks: mph = square root of (30 × skid distance in feet × drag factor).

Hearsay exceptions commonly used by patrol officers: excited utterance, present sense impression, then-existing mental, emotional, or physical condition, and dying declaration.

OUI chemical testing: 75 Pa.C.S. § 1547 implied consent; a refusal results in a civil license suspension rather than a criminal penalty for the refusal itself.

Reports must state facts in the first person and in chronological order, with observed facts matched to each element of the offense charged, and conclusions labeled as such.

Objective reasonableness (Graham v. Connor) is judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on scene, weighing severity of the crime, immediate threat, and active resistance or flight.

Deadly force to prevent escape (Tennessee v. Garner) is permitted only with probable cause the subject poses a significant threat of death or serious bodily injury; a warning must be given where feasible.

18 Pa.C.S. § 501 defines deadly force as force that, under the circumstances in which it is used, is readily capable of causing death or serious bodily injury; 18 Pa.C.S. § 505 and § 508 govern justified force.

Force must stop when resistance stops or the subject is controlled; reassess continuously, because justification expires with the threat.

Duty to intervene: an officer who observes excessive force must stop it when able and report it; medical aid follows any use of force that may have caused injury.

Restraint: handcuff behind the back when practical, double-lock, check pulse and sensation, and move a prone subject to a seated or recovery position as soon as control is achieved to reduce positional asphyxia.

Firearms safety: treat every weapon as loaded, keep the muzzle in a safe direction, keep the finger off the trigger until ready to fire, and identify the target and backstop.

Pre-assault indicators include bladed stance, clenched fists, target glance, rapid breathing, and ignoring repeated commands; they support articulation but are not proof of intent.

Official oppression, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5301: a public servant who, intending to benefit or harm someone, knowingly commits an unlawful act or acts beyond official authority commits a misdemeanor of the second degree.

Perjury, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4902, requires a false statement under oath or affirmation in an official proceeding that is material to the proceeding.

Tampering with physical evidence, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4910: altering, destroying, concealing, or fabricating evidence with intent to impair its availability or authenticity.

Obstructing administration of law, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5101, covers intentionally obstructing, impairing, or preventing the administration of law or other governmental function.

Procedural justice rests on four elements: voice, neutrality, respectful treatment, and trustworthy motives. These drive perceived fairness apart from the outcome.

SARA problem-solving model: Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment - the community policing cycle for recurring crime and disorder problems.

Accepting money, gifts, or favors from anyone who may benefit from official action creates a conflict of interest and may constitute bribery or a policy violation.

Enforcing the law against a person because of race, ethnicity, religion, or other protected class violates the Equal Protection Clause and department bias-free policing policy.

Health-related fitness components tested and trained: cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition.

Target heart rate: estimated maximum = 220 minus age; aerobic training zone = 60 to 85 percent of that maximum.

Heat illness progression: heat cramps, then heat exhaustion (heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness), then heat stroke (confusion, collapse, core temperature above 104 degrees Fahrenheit) - a medical emergency.

Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep; chronic sleep loss degrades reaction time and judgment comparably to alcohol intoxication.

General adaptation syndrome stages: alarm, resistance, exhaustion; prolonged stress without recovery leads to impaired immune function and decision-making.

Critical incident stress reactions after shootings, serious collisions, or child deaths are normal; peer support, debriefing, and employee assistance programs are the standard interventions.

Law enforcement suicide rates exceed line-of-duty death rates; warning signs include withdrawal, giving away possessions, increased substance use, and statements of hopelessness.