PA Act 120 MPOETC flashcards
PA Act 120 MPOETC · 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.
- Felony penalty ladder
- In Pennsylvania, a first-degree felony carries up to 20 years' imprisonment and a $25,000 fine; second degree is 10 years and $25,000; third degree is 7 years and $15,000.
- Misdemeanor penalty ladder
- A Pennsylvania first-degree misdemeanor carries up to 5 years' imprisonment and a $10,000 fine; second degree is 2 years and $5,000; third degree is 1 year and $2,500.
- Summary offense penalty
- In Pennsylvania, a summary offense carries a maximum of 90 days' imprisonment and a $300 fine, and is tried before a magisterial district judge without a jury.
- Warrantless arrest rule
- Pa.R.Crim.P. 502 permits warrantless arrest for any felony on probable cause, but for misdemeanors and summary offenses only when the offense occurs in the officer's presence.
- Terry stop standard
- An investigatory detention requires reasonable suspicion, meaning a particularized and objective basis for suspecting criminal activity, and must last no longer than needed to resolve that suspicion.
- Miranda custody test
- Miranda warnings are required before custodial interrogation; custody exists when a reasonable person would not feel free to leave, and interrogation means words or actions likely to elicit an incriminating response.
- Vehicle stop legal standard
- Under 75 Pa.C.S. Section 6308(b), an officer may stop a vehicle when there is reasonable suspicion that a violation of the Vehicle Code or another law is occurring or has occurred.
- Emergency vehicle privileges
- 75 Pa.C.S. Section 3105 lets emergency vehicles exceed speed limits and disregard signals only while using audible and visual signals, and never relieves the driver of due care.
- CYMBALS vehicle mnemonic
- Color, Year, Make, Body style, Accessories, License plate, and State: the mnemonic used to broadcast a complete vehicle description in a lookout or BOLO.
- High-risk felony stop sequence
- Stop the vehicle, use cover and emergency lighting, give commands over the PA system, and remove occupants one at a time walking backward to be handcuffed and searched.
- Building search priorities
- Establish perimeter containment before entry, move deliberately using cover and concealment, clear corners and closets, and work in two-officer teams with a designated point officer.
- Chain of custody
- A documented, unbroken record of every person who handled an item of evidence plus the date, time, and purpose, used to prove the item is unchanged from seizure to trial.
- Biological evidence packaging
- Blood, semen, and other biological items must be air-dried and packaged in paper, because sealed plastic traps moisture and promotes mold and degradation.
- Skid mark speed formula
- Minimum speed in miles per hour equals the square root of 30 times the skid distance in feet times the drag factor, used to estimate speed from measured skid marks.
- Excited utterance exception
- A statement about a startling event made while the declarant was under the stress of excitement that the event caused is admissible hearsay, even if the declarant is available to testify.
- Sequential double-blind lineup
- Showing lineup members one at a time to a witness who does not know which person is the suspect reduces suggestion and lowers the rate of mistaken identification.
- Graham reasonableness factors
- Courts judge force by whether it was objectively reasonable given the severity of the crime, the immediate threat to officers or others, and whether the subject resisted or fled.
- Tennessee v. Garner rule
- Deadly force to prevent escape is unconstitutional unless the officer has probable cause to believe the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to officers or others.
- Deadly force definition
- Force that, under the circumstances in which it is used, is readily capable of causing death or serious bodily injury, as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. Section 501.
- Positional asphyxia
- Risk rises when a restrained person stays prone with weight on the back or chest; officers should move the subject to a seated or recovery position as soon as control is achieved.
- Duty to intervene
- An officer who observes another officer using excessive force must intervene when in a position to do so and must report the conduct to a supervisor.
- Handcuff double-lock
- After applying handcuffs, double-lock them to prevent tightening, check for radial pulse and sensation, and cuff behind the back with palms outward when practical.
- Official oppression
- 18 Pa.C.S. Section 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.
- Procedural justice pillars
- Voice, neutrality, respectful treatment, and trustworthy motives: four elements shaping whether people perceive police action as fair, largely independent of the outcome they receive.
- SARA problem-solving model
- Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment: a four-step community policing process for identifying, analyzing, and resolving recurring crime and disorder problems.
- Duty to report misconduct
- Officers must report known misconduct by other officers, including excessive force, dishonesty, and criminal conduct, through the chain of command or internal affairs.
- Gratuity acceptance rule
- Accepting money, gifts, or favors from a person who may benefit from official action creates a conflict of interest and can constitute bribery or a policy violation.
- Target heart rate formula
- Estimated maximum heart rate is 220 minus age, and the aerobic training zone is 60 to 85 percent of that maximum.
- Heat stroke indicators
- Hot, flushed or dry skin, confusion, collapse, and a core temperature above 104 degrees Fahrenheit indicate heat stroke, a medical emergency requiring immediate cooling and EMS.
- Health-related fitness components
- Cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition are the five health-related components officers train and are evaluated on.
- Critical incident stress
- Physical and emotional reactions after a traumatic event such as a shooting, serious collision, or child death are normal and typically ease with peer support, debriefing, and time.
- Recommended adult sleep
- Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per night; chronic short sleep impairs reaction time, judgment, and decision-making in ways comparable to alcohol intoxication.