2025/2026 COLORADO POST STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Criminal Negligence - ANS-Through a gross deviation from the standard of care that a
reasonable person would exercise, he fails to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable
risk that a result will occur or that a circumstance exists
Culpable Mental State - ANS-Intentionally
Knowingly
Recklessly
Criminal negligence
Intentianally - ANS-When his conscious objective is to cause the specific result
proscribed by the statute defining the offense
,Knowingly - ANS-When he is aware that his conduct is of such nature or that such
circumstance exists
When he is aware that his conduct is practically certain to cause the result
Omission - ANS-A failure to perform an act as to which a duty of performance is
imposed by law
Recklessly - ANS-When he consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk
that a result will occur or that a circumstance exists
Voluntary Act - ANS-An act performed consciously as a result of effort or determination,
and includes the possession of property if the actor was aware of his physical
possession of property if the actor was aware of his physical possession or control
thereof for a sufficient period to have been able to terminate it
Criminal Liability - ANS-The performance by a person of conduct which includes a
voluntary act or the omission to perform an act which he is physically capable of
performing
Strict Liability - ANS-when conduct alone is all that is required for the commission of a
particular offense
(ex: DUI)
Mental Culpability - ANS-When a culpable mental state on the part of the actor is
required with respect to any material element of an offense
(ex: Murder)
§ 18-1-603 Complicity - ANS-A person is legally accountable as principal for the
behavior of another constituting a criminal offense if, with the intent to promote or
facilitate the commission of the offense, he or she aids, abets, advises, or encourages
the other person in planning or committing the offense
*basically if they helped out in the crime
§ 18-1-702 Choice of Evils - ANS-Conduct which would otherwise constitute an offense
is justifiable and not criminal when it is necessary as an emergency measure to avoid
an imminent public or private injury which is about to occur
(Ex: you commit a crime to stop a crime)
(Ex: you shatter a car window to protect a baby in a hot car)
Who are those that are covered under the use of physical force - special relations § 18-
1-703? - ANS-1. Parent, guardian, or other person entrusted with the care and
supervision of a minor or incompetent person, or teacher
2. Detentions staff
,3. Common Carrier
4. Preventing someone from suicide
5. Licensed physician or nurse
§ 18-1-704 Use of physical force in defense of a person - ANS-A person is justified in
using physical force upon another person in order to defend himself or a third person
from what he reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of unlawful physical
force by that other person, and he may use a degree of force which he reasonably
believes to be necessary for that purpose
When can you use deadly physical force in the defense of a person per § 18-1-707? -
ANS-If a person believes a lesser degree of force is inadequate and:
-he or another person is in imminent danger of being killed or of receiving great bodily
injury
-the other person is using or reasonable appears about to use physical force against an
occupant of a dwelling or business establishment while committing or attempting to
commit a burglary
-the other person is committing or reasonable appears about to commit kidnapping,
robbery or sexual assault
When is a person NOT justified in using physical force? - ANS--he provokes the use of
unlawful physical force by that other person
-he is the initial aggressor
-the physical force involved is the product of a combat by agreement not specifically
authorized by law
§ 18-1-704.5 Use of Deadly Physical Force against an intruder (Make My Day Law) -
ANS-Any occupant of a dwelling is justified in using any degree of physical force, no
matter how slight, against another person when that other person has made an unlawful
entry into the dwelling, and when the occupant has a reasonable belief that such other
person has committed a crime in that dwelling in addition to the uninvited entry, or is
committing or intends to commit a crime against a person or property
The occupant shall be immune from criminal prosecution and civil liability
What is Sensory Distortion? - ANS-An Officer may hallucinate that an Offender has
already shot him
How Does an Officer React to a Threat to Another Person? - ANS-Locate, React,
Control and Identify
The Simplest Way for an Officer to Relieve Stress? - ANS-Deep Belly Breathing
When is an Officer justified in putting a mentally ill person in Jail? - ANS-When there is
no room at an Institution and he is place in jail for safetey reasons. A menetally ill
person can only be held in a Jail for a maximum of 24 hours
, When there is a Robbery in Progress and a suspect is in the area an Officer should? -
ANS-Proceed as rapidly as possible, but use extreme caution. Assume the suspect is
still at the scene.
When an Officer takes a tape recorder to the crime scene he must? - ANS-Record any
victim, witness and suspect statements related to the crime. Do not cherry pick your
witnesses
An Officer's note taking at a crime scene is minimized by? - ANS-The type of offense,
conditions of the case, officer attitude, officer ability and the number of officers assigned
to the case
When going to the scene of a domestic dispute, there are four phases, what are they? -
ANS-1. Assess the situation
2. Take immediate corrective action
3. Listen & Observe
4. Follow up
When doing a building search, what is the best way to approach? - ANS-Diagonal
deployment
Skids that are broken without release of the brake pressure that occurs when a locked
and sliding wheel bounced over a bump, rut rail, or hole in the road is called? - ANS-A
skip skid mark
Which way do you turn the steering wheel when making a traffic stop? - ANS-Turn
wheel to the left
On an unknown risk felony stop, what is the best way to approach with two officers -
ANS-One officer approaches and the other stays out of the kill zone.
What are the characteristics of a hate crime? - ANS-No gain is made, not property is
taken, but usually involves harassment or assault.
When you are testifying on the stand, once you are finished what should you do? -
ANS-Leave the court room and resume your normal duties
What are TWO CORE Components of Community Policing? - ANS-1. Community
Partnership
2. Problem Solving
What part of S.A.R.A. model is a police officer a part of? - ANS-Assessment
Under C.R.S. What can a victim request in writing? - ANS-Release data of the offender,
parole date
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Criminal Negligence - ANS-Through a gross deviation from the standard of care that a
reasonable person would exercise, he fails to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable
risk that a result will occur or that a circumstance exists
Culpable Mental State - ANS-Intentionally
Knowingly
Recklessly
Criminal negligence
Intentianally - ANS-When his conscious objective is to cause the specific result
proscribed by the statute defining the offense
,Knowingly - ANS-When he is aware that his conduct is of such nature or that such
circumstance exists
When he is aware that his conduct is practically certain to cause the result
Omission - ANS-A failure to perform an act as to which a duty of performance is
imposed by law
Recklessly - ANS-When he consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk
that a result will occur or that a circumstance exists
Voluntary Act - ANS-An act performed consciously as a result of effort or determination,
and includes the possession of property if the actor was aware of his physical
possession of property if the actor was aware of his physical possession or control
thereof for a sufficient period to have been able to terminate it
Criminal Liability - ANS-The performance by a person of conduct which includes a
voluntary act or the omission to perform an act which he is physically capable of
performing
Strict Liability - ANS-when conduct alone is all that is required for the commission of a
particular offense
(ex: DUI)
Mental Culpability - ANS-When a culpable mental state on the part of the actor is
required with respect to any material element of an offense
(ex: Murder)
§ 18-1-603 Complicity - ANS-A person is legally accountable as principal for the
behavior of another constituting a criminal offense if, with the intent to promote or
facilitate the commission of the offense, he or she aids, abets, advises, or encourages
the other person in planning or committing the offense
*basically if they helped out in the crime
§ 18-1-702 Choice of Evils - ANS-Conduct which would otherwise constitute an offense
is justifiable and not criminal when it is necessary as an emergency measure to avoid
an imminent public or private injury which is about to occur
(Ex: you commit a crime to stop a crime)
(Ex: you shatter a car window to protect a baby in a hot car)
Who are those that are covered under the use of physical force - special relations § 18-
1-703? - ANS-1. Parent, guardian, or other person entrusted with the care and
supervision of a minor or incompetent person, or teacher
2. Detentions staff
,3. Common Carrier
4. Preventing someone from suicide
5. Licensed physician or nurse
§ 18-1-704 Use of physical force in defense of a person - ANS-A person is justified in
using physical force upon another person in order to defend himself or a third person
from what he reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of unlawful physical
force by that other person, and he may use a degree of force which he reasonably
believes to be necessary for that purpose
When can you use deadly physical force in the defense of a person per § 18-1-707? -
ANS-If a person believes a lesser degree of force is inadequate and:
-he or another person is in imminent danger of being killed or of receiving great bodily
injury
-the other person is using or reasonable appears about to use physical force against an
occupant of a dwelling or business establishment while committing or attempting to
commit a burglary
-the other person is committing or reasonable appears about to commit kidnapping,
robbery or sexual assault
When is a person NOT justified in using physical force? - ANS--he provokes the use of
unlawful physical force by that other person
-he is the initial aggressor
-the physical force involved is the product of a combat by agreement not specifically
authorized by law
§ 18-1-704.5 Use of Deadly Physical Force against an intruder (Make My Day Law) -
ANS-Any occupant of a dwelling is justified in using any degree of physical force, no
matter how slight, against another person when that other person has made an unlawful
entry into the dwelling, and when the occupant has a reasonable belief that such other
person has committed a crime in that dwelling in addition to the uninvited entry, or is
committing or intends to commit a crime against a person or property
The occupant shall be immune from criminal prosecution and civil liability
What is Sensory Distortion? - ANS-An Officer may hallucinate that an Offender has
already shot him
How Does an Officer React to a Threat to Another Person? - ANS-Locate, React,
Control and Identify
The Simplest Way for an Officer to Relieve Stress? - ANS-Deep Belly Breathing
When is an Officer justified in putting a mentally ill person in Jail? - ANS-When there is
no room at an Institution and he is place in jail for safetey reasons. A menetally ill
person can only be held in a Jail for a maximum of 24 hours
, When there is a Robbery in Progress and a suspect is in the area an Officer should? -
ANS-Proceed as rapidly as possible, but use extreme caution. Assume the suspect is
still at the scene.
When an Officer takes a tape recorder to the crime scene he must? - ANS-Record any
victim, witness and suspect statements related to the crime. Do not cherry pick your
witnesses
An Officer's note taking at a crime scene is minimized by? - ANS-The type of offense,
conditions of the case, officer attitude, officer ability and the number of officers assigned
to the case
When going to the scene of a domestic dispute, there are four phases, what are they? -
ANS-1. Assess the situation
2. Take immediate corrective action
3. Listen & Observe
4. Follow up
When doing a building search, what is the best way to approach? - ANS-Diagonal
deployment
Skids that are broken without release of the brake pressure that occurs when a locked
and sliding wheel bounced over a bump, rut rail, or hole in the road is called? - ANS-A
skip skid mark
Which way do you turn the steering wheel when making a traffic stop? - ANS-Turn
wheel to the left
On an unknown risk felony stop, what is the best way to approach with two officers -
ANS-One officer approaches and the other stays out of the kill zone.
What are the characteristics of a hate crime? - ANS-No gain is made, not property is
taken, but usually involves harassment or assault.
When you are testifying on the stand, once you are finished what should you do? -
ANS-Leave the court room and resume your normal duties
What are TWO CORE Components of Community Policing? - ANS-1. Community
Partnership
2. Problem Solving
What part of S.A.R.A. model is a police officer a part of? - ANS-Assessment
Under C.R.S. What can a victim request in writing? - ANS-Release data of the offender,
parole date
