"Every contact leaves a trace." Which forensic scientist is this basic principle named for?Wikipedia, Locard's exchange principle. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Crime Scene Management
The first officer sets the boundaries of a crime scene. In the NIJ guide, where does the officer start?National Institute of Justice, Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for Law Enforcement. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Crime Scene Management
Which kind of fingerprint is invisible to the naked eye until it is developed with powder or chemicals?Wikipedia, Fingerprint. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Crime Scene Management
Which record lists, in order, every transfer of an item of evidence from the scene to the courtroom?Wikipedia, Chain of custody. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Crime Scene Management
Show all 50 questions (46 more)
Use of Force 5
A uniformed officer steps out of a marked car and the subject complies at once. Which level of a use of force continuum was enough?Wikipedia, Use of force continuum. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Use of Force
Graham v. Connor (1989) tests a claim of excessive force during an arrest by which standard?Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 (1989). Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Use of Force
Justice Department policy permits deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes the subject poses what?U.S. Department of Justice, Justice Manual 1-16.000, Policy on Use of Force. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Use of Force
Tennessee v. Garner (1985) limited deadly force against an apparently unarmed, nondangerous suspect in flight. Which belief, held on probable cause, permits it?Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1 (1985). Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Use of Force
Which federal statute lets a person sue an official who, under color of state law, takes away a constitutional right?42 U.S.C. 1983. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Use of Force
Criminal Law and Procedures 5
Carroll v. United States (1925) established which exception to the warrant requirement?Wikipedia, Carroll v. United States. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Criminal Law and Procedures
How strong must the proof of guilt be for a conviction in a criminal trial?United States Courts, Criminal Cases. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Criminal Law and Procedures
In the federal classification of offenses, the felony classes begin where the maximum prison term is more than what?18 U.S.C. 3559. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Criminal Law and Procedures
"No Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation." Which amendment says this?National Archives, The Bill of Rights: A Transcription. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Criminal Law and Procedures
Terry v. Ohio (1968) allows a pat-down of outer clothing when the officer reasonably believes the person is what?Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968). Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Criminal Law and Procedures
Court System 5
A defendant is brought into court, hears the charges in the indictment and is asked for a plea. Which proceeding is this?United States Courts, Glossary of Legal Terms. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Court System
Before a trial, the judge and the lawyers question the people called for jury service to choose a jury. What is this process called?United States Courts, Glossary of Legal Terms. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Court System
How many U.S. district courts, the trial courts of the federal system, are there?United States Courts, Court Role and Structure. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Court System
In re Gault (1967) held that a juvenile facing commitment in a delinquency case has which protection?In re Gault, 387 U.S. 1 (1967). Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Court System
Which court order authorizes officers to go through a named place for evidence of a crime?Wikipedia, Search warrant. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Court System
Health and Safety 3
A bystander starts CPR on an adult. In the steps on MedlinePlus, how many breaths follow each 30 chest compressions?MedlinePlus, CPR - adult and child after onset of puberty. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Health and Safety
An officer finds blood on a suspect's jacket. Under the universal precautions in OSHA's bloodborne pathogens rule, how is it handled?OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1030. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Health and Safety
In the Emergency Response Guidebook, which color of page border marks the isolation and protective action distances?Wikipedia, Emergency Response Guidebook. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Health and Safety
Police Concepts and Skills 12
A Kansas City experiment in the early 1970s changed how much routine patrol each beat received. What did it show about crime?Wikipedia, Kansas City preventive patrol experiment. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Police Concepts and Skills
After a lawful traffic stop, Pennsylvania v. Mimms (1977) lets the officer do what without further cause?Pennsylvania v. Mimms, 434 U.S. 106 (1977). Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Police Concepts and Skills
An officer lawfully inside a home notices contraband lying on a table and seizes it with no warrant. Which doctrine applies?Wikipedia, Plain view doctrine. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Police Concepts and Skills
August Vollmer, described as "the father of modern policing", was the first police chief of which city?Wikipedia, August Vollmer. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Police Concepts and Skills
In the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, what does the officer look for?Wikipedia, Field sobriety testing. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Police Concepts and Skills
Miranda v. Arizona (1966) requires the warnings before which event?Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966). Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Police Concepts and Skills
Most states set the same illegal blood alcohol concentration for drivers who are 21 or older. What is it?Wikipedia, Drunk driving in the United States. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Police Concepts and Skills
Someone takes a wallet from a victim by threatening to hurt them. Which crime is this?Wikipedia, Robbery. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Police Concepts and Skills
Under Chimel v. California (1969), a search incident to arrest covers the arrested person and what else?Chimel v. California, 395 U.S. 752 (1969). Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Police Concepts and Skills
What does the double lock on a pair of handcuffs do?Wikipedia, Handcuffs. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Police Concepts and Skills
What was IAFIS, which the FBI maintained from 1999 to 2014?Wikipedia, Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Police Concepts and Skills
Which idea lies at the center of the Peelian principles of policing?Wikipedia, Peelian principles. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Police Concepts and Skills
Corrections 4
An inmate leaves prison after serving part of the sentence and is supervised in the community. What is this release called?United States Courts, Glossary of Legal Terms. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Corrections
What does recidivism mean?Wikipedia, Recidivism. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Corrections
Which 1976 Supreme Court decision upheld the death penalty under revised state laws?Wikipedia, Gregg v. Georgia. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Corrections
Which facility is usually run by a local government and holds people before trial or for less than a year?Wikipedia, Prison. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Corrections
Communication 7
The COPS Office names three key components of community policing: community partnerships, problem solving and what?U.S. Department of Justice, COPS Office, Community Policing Defined. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Communication
Eck and Spelman gave police a four-step model for solving problems, known by its initials. Which list gives the steps?Wikipedia, Problem-oriented policing. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Communication
In the Incident Command System, what does a transfer of command always include?Wikipedia, Incident Command System. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Communication
The Incident Command System keeps a span of control between three and seven people. Which number is ideal?Wikipedia, Incident Command System. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Communication
Reporters check the opening of a story against the Five Ws, and report writers borrow the habit. Which list names them?Wikipedia, Five Ws. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Communication
Which FBI system is the central U.S. database for tracking crime-related information such as wanted persons and stolen property?Wikipedia, National Crime Information Center. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Communication
Why did the federal government recommend in 2006 that agencies drop ten-codes for everyday language on the radio?Wikipedia, Ten-code. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Communication
Security: National, International, and Private 3
A private security guard is posted to watch a property, not to confront anyone. Which philosophy is that guard taught?Wikipedia, Security guard. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Security: National, International, and Private
In 18 U.S.C. 2331, what sets domestic terrorism apart from international terrorism?18 U.S.C. 2331. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Security: National, International, and Private
Which federal law, enacted in 1970, adds penalties for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization?Wikipedia, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Security: National, International, and Private
Understand and Work with Special Populations 2
Selecting people for enforcement by race or ethnicity, and not by individual suspicion or evidence, is called what?Wikipedia, Racial profiling. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Understand and Work with Special Populations
What is a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)?Wikipedia, Police crisis intervention team. Written to NOCTI Criminal Justice (4281), Understand and Work with Special Populations
How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the competency list of the Job Ready Credential Blueprint for Criminal Justice (code 4281, version 01, copyright 2022) that NOCTI publishes at https://www.nocti.org/wp-content/uploads/Blueprints/JRCrimJust4281.pdf , read 2026-10-16: a written assessment of 195 questions in 3 hours over ten areas (Crime Scene Management 8%; Use of Force 11%; Criminal Law and Procedures 10%; Court System 9%; Health and Safety 6%; Police Concepts and Skills 23%; Corrections 9%; Communication 14%; Security: National, International, and Private 5%; Understand and Work with Special Populations 5%), plus a performance assessment of five jobs. This bank holds 50 in those proportions. NOCTI also posts a Teacher blueprint, code 5381 (the same ten areas and weights, 195 questions), and a pilot blueprint, code 4381, marked subject to change (127 questions over nine areas); this bank follows 4281. Every holding, rule and definition was read on 2026-10-16 on the public page named under its question: Supreme Court opinions and the United States Code in the copies at law.cornell.edu, the Bill of Rights at archives.gov, uscourts.gov, the Justice Manual at justice.gov, the National Institute of Justice guide to crime scene investigation, the COPS Office, the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard, MedlinePlus and Wikipedia. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site. Court opinions, statutes and federal publications are public documents, and no question or example is copied from them.
How it works
This free NOCTI practice test for criminal justice has 50 questions of our own, sorted by the ten areas of the Job Ready Criminal Justice blueprint, code 4281. It is unofficial: NOCTI does not sponsor, endorse or review it.
Read the full guide
Ten areas, and police work leads
Police Concepts and Skills is 23% of the written assessment and Communication 14%. Use of Force is 11%, Criminal Law and Procedures 10%, Court System and Corrections 9% each, Crime Scene Management 8%, Health and Safety 6%, Security and Special Populations 5% each. The 50 questions here split 12, 7, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 3, 3 and 2.
The clock
As a timed exam, 50 questions are allowed 46 minutes, the pace of the written assessment. The blueprint prints no pass mark, so a round ends with a score alone.
Left out
Basic firearm safety, a blueprint competency, is not practiced here. The five performance jobs are judged in person.
Graham v. Connor judges force by objective reasonableness. Tennessee v. Garner limits deadly force against a fleeing suspect.
Parole follows part of a prison sentence. Probation is supervision in place of imprisonment.
Answers on the law name the case or section. State law and agency policy differ, so check your own.
Questions and answers
How many questions are on the NOCTI Criminal Justice test?
The Job Ready blueprint, code 4281, lists 195 written questions in 3 hours, in one, two or three sessions. Its five performance jobs take a further 2 hours and 50 minutes.
What is on the NOCTI Criminal Justice performance test?
Five jobs: crime scene investigation (26%), sobriety testing with the horizontal gaze nystagmus, walk and turn and one leg stand (26%), an arrest (20%), a traffic stop with a citation (20%) and a visual and auditory observation test (8%).
Is there a newer NOCTI Criminal Justice blueprint?
A pilot blueprint, code 4381, is posted beside it and marked as subject to change: 127 questions in 2 hours and 30 minutes over nine areas, one of them Ethics and Integrity in Criminal Justice. The questions on this page follow 4281.
Is this also practice for the NOCTI Teacher test in criminal justice?
Yes. The Teacher assessment, code 5381, prints the same ten written areas with the same weights and 195 questions. Teacher tests are given at a NOCTI-approved Area Test Center.