LOUISIANA POST (Peace Officer
Standards and Training) EXAM| 200
Practice Questions with Answers &
Rationales
SECTION 1: LOUISIANA CRIMINAL LAW (Questions 1–40)
1. Under Louisiana law, what is the definition of a "crime"?
A) Any act that causes harm to another person
B) An act or omission defined by law and for which a sentence of imprisonment, fine, or
both may be imposed ✅ (correct answer)
C) Any behavior that violates community standards
D) An act committed intentionally against a victim
Rationale: Louisiana Revised Statute 14:7 defines a crime as an act or omission for which the
law provides punishment. Not all harmful acts are crimes — they must be defined by statute.
2. What are the two elements required to establish criminal liability in Louisiana?
A) Motive and opportunity
B) Criminal act (actus reus) and criminal intent (mens rea) ✅ (correct answer)
C) Victim and perpetrator
D) Evidence and witnesses
Rationale: Louisiana criminal law, like most American jurisdictions, requires both a guilty act
(actus reus) and a guilty mind (mens rea) to establish criminal liability, per La. R.S. 14:8.
3. What does "specific intent" mean under Louisiana law?
A) The offender acted with general criminal knowledge
B) The offender actively desired the prescribed criminal consequences to follow from
their act ✅ (correct answer)
C) The offender knew the act was against the law
D) The offender acted recklessly without regard for consequences
,Rationale: La. R.S. 14:10(1) defines specific criminal intent as the state of mind when the
offender actively desired the criminal consequences to follow from their act.
4. What does "general intent" mean under Louisiana law?
A) A broad intention to commit any crime
B) The intent to do the act which constitutes the crime, without requiring desire for the
resulting consequences ✅ (correct answer)
C) Intent formed over a long period of time
D) The intent shared among multiple offenders
Rationale: La. R.S. 14:10(2) defines general criminal intent as existing when the circumstances
indicate the offender must have been aware that the proscribed consequences would follow the
act.
5. Under Louisiana law, what is "criminal negligence"?
A) Failure to exercise ordinary care causing harm
B) A gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise,
creating unjustifiable risk ✅ (correct answer)
C) Any careless act that results in injury
D) Intentional disregard of known risks
Rationale: La. R.S. 14:12 defines criminal negligence as a gross deviation from a reasonable
standard of care where the offender should have been aware of a substantial risk.
6. What is "justifiable homicide" in Louisiana?
A) Any killing in self-defense
B) A killing committed by a law enforcement officer in performance of duty, or by any
person in necessary self-defense ✅ (correct answer)
C) A killing where the victim provoked the offender
D) Any killing where the offender shows remorse
Rationale: La. R.S. 14:20 defines justifiable homicide — including killings by officers in the line
of duty and killings in necessary self-defense — as not criminal.
7. In Louisiana, first-degree murder requires which of the following?
, A) Killing with any weapon during a crime
B) Killing with specific intent to kill or inflict great bodily harm, with at least one of the
enumerated aggravating factors ✅ (correct answer)
C) Any intentional killing of another person
D) Killing during the commission of a felony
Rationale: La. R.S. 14:30 defines first-degree murder as specific intent killing coupled with
aggravating factors such as killing a police officer, multiple victims, or a child under 12.
8. What is the difference between second-degree murder and manslaughter in Louisiana?
A) Second-degree murder requires a weapon; manslaughter does not
B) Second-degree murder is a specific or general intent killing; manslaughter involves
heat of passion or negligence without the intent element ✅ (correct answer)
C) Second-degree murder always results in the death penalty; manslaughter does not
D) Manslaughter requires multiple victims; second-degree murder involves one
Rationale: La. R.S. 14:30.1 (second-degree murder) requires specific intent to kill. La. R.S.
14:31 (manslaughter) reduces the charge where passion or negligence mitigates culpability.
9. What is "simple battery" under Louisiana law?
A) Offensive touching with a weapon
B) Intentional use of force or violence upon another, without the consent of the victim ✅
(correct answer)
C) Threatening to strike another person
D) Any physical contact causing injury
Rationale: La. R.S. 14:35 defines simple battery as intentional use of force or violence upon
another without their consent — no injury is required; the intentional offensive touching is
enough.
10. What distinguishes "aggravated battery" from simple battery in Louisiana?
A) Aggravated battery requires hospitalization of the victim
B) Aggravated battery is a battery committed with a dangerous weapon ✅ (correct
answer)
C) Aggravated battery involves multiple attackers
D) Aggravated battery requires prior criminal history
, Rationale: La. R.S. 14:34 defines aggravated battery as a battery committed with a dangerous
weapon — elevating the offense from a misdemeanor to a felony.
11. Under Louisiana law, what is "simple assault"?
A) Striking another person with intent to injure
B) An attempt to commit a battery or the intentional placing of another in reasonable
apprehension of receiving a battery ✅ (correct answer)
C) Any threatening gesture made toward another person
D) Verbal threats to commit violence
Rationale: La. R.S. 14:38 defines simple assault as an attempt to commit battery or intentionally
placing someone in reasonable apprehension of battery — no physical contact is required.
12. What is "simple robbery" in Louisiana?
A) Taking property from another without force
B) The taking of anything of value belonging to another from the person of another, by
use of force or intimidation, but not armed with a dangerous weapon ✅ (correct answer)
C) Breaking and entering with intent to steal
D) Stealing property valued over $1,000
Rationale: La. R.S. 14:65 defines simple robbery as taking something of value from a person
using force or intimidation — distinguished from armed robbery by the absence of a dangerous
weapon.
13. What additional element distinguishes "armed robbery" from simple robbery in
Louisiana?
A) The value of property taken exceeds $5,000
B) The offender is armed with a dangerous weapon ✅ (correct answer)
C) The victim is physically injured during the robbery
D) The robbery occurs at night
Rationale: La. R.S. 14:64 defines armed robbery as taking property from a person using force or
intimidation while armed with a dangerous weapon — a more serious felony than simple
robbery.
Standards and Training) EXAM| 200
Practice Questions with Answers &
Rationales
SECTION 1: LOUISIANA CRIMINAL LAW (Questions 1–40)
1. Under Louisiana law, what is the definition of a "crime"?
A) Any act that causes harm to another person
B) An act or omission defined by law and for which a sentence of imprisonment, fine, or
both may be imposed ✅ (correct answer)
C) Any behavior that violates community standards
D) An act committed intentionally against a victim
Rationale: Louisiana Revised Statute 14:7 defines a crime as an act or omission for which the
law provides punishment. Not all harmful acts are crimes — they must be defined by statute.
2. What are the two elements required to establish criminal liability in Louisiana?
A) Motive and opportunity
B) Criminal act (actus reus) and criminal intent (mens rea) ✅ (correct answer)
C) Victim and perpetrator
D) Evidence and witnesses
Rationale: Louisiana criminal law, like most American jurisdictions, requires both a guilty act
(actus reus) and a guilty mind (mens rea) to establish criminal liability, per La. R.S. 14:8.
3. What does "specific intent" mean under Louisiana law?
A) The offender acted with general criminal knowledge
B) The offender actively desired the prescribed criminal consequences to follow from
their act ✅ (correct answer)
C) The offender knew the act was against the law
D) The offender acted recklessly without regard for consequences
,Rationale: La. R.S. 14:10(1) defines specific criminal intent as the state of mind when the
offender actively desired the criminal consequences to follow from their act.
4. What does "general intent" mean under Louisiana law?
A) A broad intention to commit any crime
B) The intent to do the act which constitutes the crime, without requiring desire for the
resulting consequences ✅ (correct answer)
C) Intent formed over a long period of time
D) The intent shared among multiple offenders
Rationale: La. R.S. 14:10(2) defines general criminal intent as existing when the circumstances
indicate the offender must have been aware that the proscribed consequences would follow the
act.
5. Under Louisiana law, what is "criminal negligence"?
A) Failure to exercise ordinary care causing harm
B) A gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise,
creating unjustifiable risk ✅ (correct answer)
C) Any careless act that results in injury
D) Intentional disregard of known risks
Rationale: La. R.S. 14:12 defines criminal negligence as a gross deviation from a reasonable
standard of care where the offender should have been aware of a substantial risk.
6. What is "justifiable homicide" in Louisiana?
A) Any killing in self-defense
B) A killing committed by a law enforcement officer in performance of duty, or by any
person in necessary self-defense ✅ (correct answer)
C) A killing where the victim provoked the offender
D) Any killing where the offender shows remorse
Rationale: La. R.S. 14:20 defines justifiable homicide — including killings by officers in the line
of duty and killings in necessary self-defense — as not criminal.
7. In Louisiana, first-degree murder requires which of the following?
, A) Killing with any weapon during a crime
B) Killing with specific intent to kill or inflict great bodily harm, with at least one of the
enumerated aggravating factors ✅ (correct answer)
C) Any intentional killing of another person
D) Killing during the commission of a felony
Rationale: La. R.S. 14:30 defines first-degree murder as specific intent killing coupled with
aggravating factors such as killing a police officer, multiple victims, or a child under 12.
8. What is the difference between second-degree murder and manslaughter in Louisiana?
A) Second-degree murder requires a weapon; manslaughter does not
B) Second-degree murder is a specific or general intent killing; manslaughter involves
heat of passion or negligence without the intent element ✅ (correct answer)
C) Second-degree murder always results in the death penalty; manslaughter does not
D) Manslaughter requires multiple victims; second-degree murder involves one
Rationale: La. R.S. 14:30.1 (second-degree murder) requires specific intent to kill. La. R.S.
14:31 (manslaughter) reduces the charge where passion or negligence mitigates culpability.
9. What is "simple battery" under Louisiana law?
A) Offensive touching with a weapon
B) Intentional use of force or violence upon another, without the consent of the victim ✅
(correct answer)
C) Threatening to strike another person
D) Any physical contact causing injury
Rationale: La. R.S. 14:35 defines simple battery as intentional use of force or violence upon
another without their consent — no injury is required; the intentional offensive touching is
enough.
10. What distinguishes "aggravated battery" from simple battery in Louisiana?
A) Aggravated battery requires hospitalization of the victim
B) Aggravated battery is a battery committed with a dangerous weapon ✅ (correct
answer)
C) Aggravated battery involves multiple attackers
D) Aggravated battery requires prior criminal history
, Rationale: La. R.S. 14:34 defines aggravated battery as a battery committed with a dangerous
weapon — elevating the offense from a misdemeanor to a felony.
11. Under Louisiana law, what is "simple assault"?
A) Striking another person with intent to injure
B) An attempt to commit a battery or the intentional placing of another in reasonable
apprehension of receiving a battery ✅ (correct answer)
C) Any threatening gesture made toward another person
D) Verbal threats to commit violence
Rationale: La. R.S. 14:38 defines simple assault as an attempt to commit battery or intentionally
placing someone in reasonable apprehension of battery — no physical contact is required.
12. What is "simple robbery" in Louisiana?
A) Taking property from another without force
B) The taking of anything of value belonging to another from the person of another, by
use of force or intimidation, but not armed with a dangerous weapon ✅ (correct answer)
C) Breaking and entering with intent to steal
D) Stealing property valued over $1,000
Rationale: La. R.S. 14:65 defines simple robbery as taking something of value from a person
using force or intimidation — distinguished from armed robbery by the absence of a dangerous
weapon.
13. What additional element distinguishes "armed robbery" from simple robbery in
Louisiana?
A) The value of property taken exceeds $5,000
B) The offender is armed with a dangerous weapon ✅ (correct answer)
C) The victim is physically injured during the robbery
D) The robbery occurs at night
Rationale: La. R.S. 14:64 defines armed robbery as taking property from a person using force or
intimidation while armed with a dangerous weapon — a more serious felony than simple
robbery.
