Question 1

Which of the following pieces of legislation has likely had the greatest impact on police activities and powers?

Accepted Answer

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms has had a profound impact on police activities and powers in Canada by setting limits on the state's power to search, detain, and arrest, ensuring the protection of individual rights and freedoms. This has necessitated changes in police procedures and practices to comply with Charter standards.

Question 2

Which statement is most accurate with respect to police officers and their use of force?

Accepted Answer

Police officers are trained to use force that is one level higher than the threat they are facing to ensure control of the situation, but they are also trained to use the minimum force necessary.

Question 3

Amy is a police officer who is in the process of arresting a suspect. She searches the suspect to make sure that he does not have any weapons or easily destroyed evidence on his person.	Which type of search is this?

Accepted Answer

This is a legal warrantless search because police officers are allowed to search a suspect for weapons or evidence that could be destroyed during the process of an arrest to ensure their safety and preserve evidence. This is known as a search incident to a lawful arrest.

Question 4

What is entrapment with respect to police powers?

Accepted Answer

Entrapment occurs when law enforcement officers induce a person to commit a crime that they would otherwise have been unlikely to commit. It involves creating a situation where the person commits a crime they would not have contemplated without the police's intervention.

Question 5

Which of the following is a consequence of recent court decisions for police officers?

Accepted Answer

Recent court decisions have generally upheld the ability of police to obtain physical evidence such as foot, palm, and teeth impressions from suspects as part of their investigation. These types of evidence collection are considered less invasive and do not typically require a warrant, contrasting with more invasive procedures or those that might require specific legal thresholds or conditions to be met.

Question 6

Which of the following statements best describes police discretion in Canada?

Accepted Answer

Police discretion is an essential aspect of policing, allowing officers to make judgment calls in various situations based on the circumstances they encounter. This flexibility is necessary for the effective functioning of law enforcement agencies, enabling officers to decide the most appropriate action in a given context, such as whether to issue a warning, make an arrest, or take no action.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a factor identified by field research studies as influencing patrol officers' decision making?

Accepted Answer

The time of day the alleged offence occurs is generally not considered a significant factor in influencing patrol officers' decision making compared to the seriousness of the offence, departmental priorities, and the wishes of the complainant.

Question 8

Mark is an RCMP officer who frequents online chat rooms posing as a 12-year-old girl in order to attract online predators. Which of the following might be a possible defence for someone who tries to seduce Mark's online alter-ego?

Accepted Answer

Entrapment occurs when law enforcement officials induce a person to commit a crime they would not have otherwise committed. In this scenario, if the individual argues that they were only engaging in illegal activity due to the undercover officer's (posing as a 12-year-old girl) persuasion or inducement, they might claim entrapment as a defense.

Question 9

Abby is a police officer who is responding to a 911 call about an in-progress physical assault. When she reaches the scene, the suspect continues to physically assault the victim with his bare hands. Abby uses a compliance tool to get control of the suspect. This is an example of what type of force?

Accepted Answer

The one-plus-one use of force standard suggests that officers may use a higher level of force than the suspect is currently using, but only one level higher, to gain control of the situation. Abby's use of a compliance tool in response to a physical assault is an example of applying this standard appropriately to control the suspect.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is NOT a circumstance where an arrest without warrant would be acceptable?

Accepted Answer

In many jurisdictions, police officers are generally not permitted to arrest someone without a warrant for a summary conviction offence unless it is committed in their presence. Summary offences are considered less serious than indictable offences, and the law often requires a warrant for such arrests unless specific exceptions apply.

Question 11

Which of the following actions by a police officer would NOT be part of a lawful arrest?

Accepted Answer

In many jurisdictions, while a suspect does have the right to counsel, it is not always the case that this counsel must be paid for by the state. This provision varies by country and legal system, and suspects may only be entitled to state-paid counsel under certain conditions or may need to meet specific criteria to qualify for such assistance.

Question 12

According to the Supreme Court of Canada, under what circumstances is a warrant NOT required to enter a premise?

Accepted Answer

A warrant is not required when an officer believes that someone on the premises is in danger of injury, as this falls under exigent circumstances where immediate action is necessary to prevent harm.

Question 13

Robert is an RCMP officer who is dispatched to deal with a very loud party in a residential neighbourhood. When he arrives at the party, an intoxicated male partygoer refuses to answer his questions and shouts at him repeatedly. The man refuses to identify himself or provide Robert with identification. Robert uses his Taser to take the man down so that he can arrest him. What type of force is this?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Robert is an RCMP officer who is...

Question 14

James is a police officer who has committed a crime without a valid job-based excuse. Which of the following accountability mechanisms is most appropriate given this violation?

Accepted Answer

Legal accountability is the most appropriate mechanism for addressing a crime committed by a police officer without a valid job-based excuse. This is because legal systems are specifically designed to handle violations of law, ensuring that individuals who commit crimes are held responsible according to established legal procedures and standards, regardless of their profession.

Question 15

Lila is a police officer who has recently had a citizen complaint lodged against her. Which of the following accountability mechanisms is most appropriate given these circumstances?

Accepted Answer

Administrative accountability is the most appropriate mechanism in this scenario because it involves internal reviews and actions taken by the police department or relevant administrative body to address complaints or misconduct by its members, such as a police officer.

Question 16

Peter is a police officer who is responding to a disconnected 911 call. When he reaches the source of the call, he hears a couple fighting and what sounds like items being thrown around inside the residence. After knocking without an answer, he forces entry into the house. This is an example of what type of search?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a legal warrantless search because police officers are allowed to enter a premises without a warrant under exigent circumstances, such as to prevent physical harm, which is suggested by the sounds of a fight and items being thrown.

Question 17

Who are search warrants generally issued by?

Accepted Answer

Search warrants are generally issued by a Justice of the Peace.

Question 18

What is the term for a situation where a person ends up committing an offence he or she would not otherwise have committed, largely as a result of pressure or cunning on the part of the police?

Accepted Answer

Entrapment occurs when law enforcement officers induce a person to commit a crime that they would not have otherwise committed.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT identified in the text as a potential benefit of using entrapment?

Accepted Answer

Entrapment can decrease time spent investigating cases is not identified in the text as a potential benefit of using entrapment.

Question 20

Chloe is dispatched to a residence for a reported domestic disturbance. When she arrives at the scene, it is clear that the suspect has assaulted his common-law wife. The wife is not interested in pressing charges against her husband, but Chloe arrests the husband anyway. Which type of practice is this?

Accepted Answer

Chloe's action is an example of a zero tolerance policy, where certain behaviors, such as domestic violence, are met with strict enforcement actions regardless of the victim's wishes to press charges or not. This approach prioritizes the enforcement of laws to protect victims and prevent further harm.

Quiz 5: Police Powers and Decision Making