BLEA Exam 1 (2025) – Study Guide and Exam Revision Material
Statutory vs Common Law - correct answer ✔✔statutory: established through the legislative
process
common law: established by previous court decisions
US Federal District Court is divided into ___ circuit courts - correct answer ✔✔13
WA is in what federal circuit court - correct answer ✔✔Ninth
Within the ninth circuit, there are how many federal districts - correct answer ✔✔2
Persuasive vs Binding authority - correct answer ✔✔Binding means that a court has to follow it;
it was a decision passed in its jurisdiction.
Persuasive means that a court doesn't necessarily have to follow it, but it may be used to
influence their decision.
Substantive vs Procedural Law - correct answer ✔✔- *Substantive law* is the "what" that
defines, regulates, and creates legal rights.
- *Procedural law* is "how" to enforce your rights, how the process of enforcing the law goes,
and establishes penalties or remedies.
Mens rea - correct answer ✔✔the intention or knowledge of wrongdoing that constitutes part
of a crime, as opposed to the action. "Guilty mind", criminal intent.
Which branch of government defines crimes? - correct answer ✔✔Legislative in most cases
Which branch of government interprets law? - correct answer ✔✔Judicial
,Five Basic Premises of Criminal Law - correct answer ✔✔1. Act or Omission
2. Mental State
3. Concurrence
4. Causation
5. All laws must be written
4 mental states in criminal law - correct answer ✔✔- Intent
- Knowledge
- Recklessness
- Criminal negligence
Corpus delecti - correct answer ✔✔"Body of the crime". Basically, we need evidence a crime
occurred to charge it.
Statute of limitations for: murder, or most crimes against children - correct answer ✔✔No limit
Statute of limitations for: rape, 1st and 2nd degree - correct answer ✔✔20 years
Statute of limitations for: felony by LE/public officer - correct answer ✔✔10 years
Statute of limitations for: most felonies - correct answer ✔✔3 years
Statute of limitations for: gross misdemeanors - correct answer ✔✔2 years
Statute of limitations for: misdemeanors - correct answer ✔✔1 year
,What can "stop the clock" on statute of limitations? - correct answer ✔✔Time spent not
residing in the state
Max Penalty for: Class A Felony - correct answer ✔✔Life/50k
Max Penalty for: Class B Felony - correct answer ✔✔10 years/20k
Max Penalty for: Class C Felony - correct answer ✔✔5 years/10k
Max Penalty for: Gross misdemeanor - correct answer ✔✔364 days/5k
Max Penalty for: Misdemeanor - correct answer ✔✔90 days/1k
What RCW defines what misdemeanors you can arrest for? - correct answer ✔✔RCW 10.31.100
The four "A"s of legal responsbility - correct answer ✔✔Ask
Agree
Attempt
Aid
Criminal Attempt - correct answer ✔✔Intent to commit a crime
+
a substantial step toward committing it
"Substantial step" towards committing a crime - correct answer ✔✔Conduct that strongly
indicates a criminal purpose. More than mere preparation.
, Criminal Solicitation - correct answer ✔✔Intent to promote or facilitate a crime
+
Offering someone money or something of value
If someone commits criminal solicitation, but tries to make it right by reporting it to police well
in advance of it happening, does this get them out of it? - correct answer ✔✔No. The
solicitation happens once you do it.
If someone commits criminal complicity, but tries to make it right by reporting it to police well in
advance of it happening, does this get them out of it? - correct answer ✔✔Yes, potentially.
Criminal conspiracy - correct answer ✔✔Intent to commit a crime
+
2 or more people agree
+
A substantial step
Age of criminal responsibility - correct answer ✔✔12 and over - Capable
8-11 - Presumed incapable, will usually have a hearing
7 and under - Incapable
"Deadly Weapon" per RCW - correct answer ✔✔Any firearm, loaded or unloaded.
Any explosive.
And other weapon, item, substance, or vehicle, which when used, attempted to be used, or
threatened to be used, is readily capable of causing death or substantial bodily harm
Statutory vs Common Law - correct answer ✔✔statutory: established through the legislative
process
common law: established by previous court decisions
US Federal District Court is divided into ___ circuit courts - correct answer ✔✔13
WA is in what federal circuit court - correct answer ✔✔Ninth
Within the ninth circuit, there are how many federal districts - correct answer ✔✔2
Persuasive vs Binding authority - correct answer ✔✔Binding means that a court has to follow it;
it was a decision passed in its jurisdiction.
Persuasive means that a court doesn't necessarily have to follow it, but it may be used to
influence their decision.
Substantive vs Procedural Law - correct answer ✔✔- *Substantive law* is the "what" that
defines, regulates, and creates legal rights.
- *Procedural law* is "how" to enforce your rights, how the process of enforcing the law goes,
and establishes penalties or remedies.
Mens rea - correct answer ✔✔the intention or knowledge of wrongdoing that constitutes part
of a crime, as opposed to the action. "Guilty mind", criminal intent.
Which branch of government defines crimes? - correct answer ✔✔Legislative in most cases
Which branch of government interprets law? - correct answer ✔✔Judicial
,Five Basic Premises of Criminal Law - correct answer ✔✔1. Act or Omission
2. Mental State
3. Concurrence
4. Causation
5. All laws must be written
4 mental states in criminal law - correct answer ✔✔- Intent
- Knowledge
- Recklessness
- Criminal negligence
Corpus delecti - correct answer ✔✔"Body of the crime". Basically, we need evidence a crime
occurred to charge it.
Statute of limitations for: murder, or most crimes against children - correct answer ✔✔No limit
Statute of limitations for: rape, 1st and 2nd degree - correct answer ✔✔20 years
Statute of limitations for: felony by LE/public officer - correct answer ✔✔10 years
Statute of limitations for: most felonies - correct answer ✔✔3 years
Statute of limitations for: gross misdemeanors - correct answer ✔✔2 years
Statute of limitations for: misdemeanors - correct answer ✔✔1 year
,What can "stop the clock" on statute of limitations? - correct answer ✔✔Time spent not
residing in the state
Max Penalty for: Class A Felony - correct answer ✔✔Life/50k
Max Penalty for: Class B Felony - correct answer ✔✔10 years/20k
Max Penalty for: Class C Felony - correct answer ✔✔5 years/10k
Max Penalty for: Gross misdemeanor - correct answer ✔✔364 days/5k
Max Penalty for: Misdemeanor - correct answer ✔✔90 days/1k
What RCW defines what misdemeanors you can arrest for? - correct answer ✔✔RCW 10.31.100
The four "A"s of legal responsbility - correct answer ✔✔Ask
Agree
Attempt
Aid
Criminal Attempt - correct answer ✔✔Intent to commit a crime
+
a substantial step toward committing it
"Substantial step" towards committing a crime - correct answer ✔✔Conduct that strongly
indicates a criminal purpose. More than mere preparation.
, Criminal Solicitation - correct answer ✔✔Intent to promote or facilitate a crime
+
Offering someone money or something of value
If someone commits criminal solicitation, but tries to make it right by reporting it to police well
in advance of it happening, does this get them out of it? - correct answer ✔✔No. The
solicitation happens once you do it.
If someone commits criminal complicity, but tries to make it right by reporting it to police well in
advance of it happening, does this get them out of it? - correct answer ✔✔Yes, potentially.
Criminal conspiracy - correct answer ✔✔Intent to commit a crime
+
2 or more people agree
+
A substantial step
Age of criminal responsibility - correct answer ✔✔12 and over - Capable
8-11 - Presumed incapable, will usually have a hearing
7 and under - Incapable
"Deadly Weapon" per RCW - correct answer ✔✔Any firearm, loaded or unloaded.
Any explosive.
And other weapon, item, substance, or vehicle, which when used, attempted to be used, or
threatened to be used, is readily capable of causing death or substantial bodily harm
