Colorado POST Review Exam Questions and
Answers 2026 | Updated Police Officer
Certification Study Guide with Verified
Practice Tests
COLORADO POST REVIEW EXAM 2026
Verified Multiple-Choice Questions | Peace Officer Certification Study Guide
• This guide contains questions aligned with the Colorado POST certification exam,
covering criminal law, use of force, search and seizure, arrest procedures, traffic,
domestic violence, mental health, ethics, and more — each with five answer
choices, a bolded correct answer, and a detailed EXPERT RATIONALE.
• Work through each question independently before checking the correct answer,
then study the EXPERT RATIONALE closely to reinforce understanding and identify
areas needing review.
1. Under Colorado law, which of the following best defines "deadly physical
force"?
A) Any force that causes injury to another person
B) Any force used during the commission of a felony
C) Force used only when a firearm is involved
D) Any force that results in temporary incapacitation
E) Force capable of causing serious bodily injury or death
E) Force capable of causing serious bodily injury or death
EXPERT RATIONALE: CRS § 18-1-901(3)(d) defines deadly physical force as force
whose intended, natural, and probable consequence is to produce death or create
a grave risk of death or serious bodily injury. It is not limited to firearms.
2. Under Colorado law, a "Class 1 felony" is punishable by:
,A) 4 to 16 years in prison
B) 1 to 3 years in prison
C) 6 to 12 months in county jail
D) 2 to 6 years in prison
E) Life imprisonment or the death penalty
E) Life imprisonment or the death penalty
EXPERT RATIONALE: CRS § 18-1.3-401 establishes that a Class 1 felony — the most
serious offense in Colorado — carries a sentence of life imprisonment or the death
penalty. First-degree murder is the primary Class 1 felony.
3. Which of the following is classified as a "Class 1 misdemeanor" under
Colorado law?
A) Petty theft under $300
B) Possession of less than 2 oz. of marijuana in public
C) Criminal mischief causing $300–$999 in damages
D) Trespassing on agricultural land
E) Third-degree assault
E) Third-degree assault
EXPERT RATIONALE: Third-degree assault (CRS § 18-3-204), which involves
knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury to another person, is a Class 1
misdemeanor in Colorado. It carries up to 364 days in jail.
4. Under Colorado law, "serious bodily injury" is defined as:
A) Any injury requiring stitches or a bandage
B) Any broken bone
,C) Any injury resulting in hospitalization
D) Injury causing temporary pain
E) Injury involving a substantial risk of death, permanent disfigurement, or
protracted loss of a body part or organ's function
E) Injury involving a substantial risk of death, permanent disfigurement,
or protracted loss of a body part or organ's function
EXPERT RATIONALE: CRS § 18-1-901(3)(p) defines serious bodily injury as involving
a substantial risk of death, serious permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or
impairment of the function of any body part or organ. It distinguishes from
ordinary "bodily injury."
5. A person commits "theft" in Colorado when they:
A) Knowingly receive stolen property only
B) Intentionally take another's property intending to deprive them of it only
C) Use deception to obtain services without payment only
D) None of the above
E) All of the above
E) All of the above
EXPERT RATIONALE: CRS § 18-4-401 broadly defines theft to include: taking
another's property, receiving stolen property, and obtaining services through
deception — all with intent to permanently deprive the owner. The statute is
comprehensive and covers multiple means of commission.
6. Under Colorado law, first-degree burglary differs from second-degree
burglary in that first-degree burglary requires:
A) Entry through a locked door
B) The theft of property valued over $1,000
, C) Entry during nighttime hours only
D) Two or more persons acting together
E) The offender to assault or menace a person, or be armed with explosives or a
deadly weapon
E) The offender to assault or menace a person, or be armed with
explosives or a deadly weapon
EXPERT RATIONALE: CRS § 18-4-202 provides that first-degree burglary — a Class 3
felony — requires not only unlawful entry with criminal intent but also that the
offender assault or menace any person present, or that the offender or an
accomplice is armed with explosives or a deadly weapon.
7. Under CRS § 18-3-301, which of the following constitutes first-degree
kidnapping?
A) Confining a person to a room without their permission
B) Holding a person against their will for one hour
C) Detaining a person without consent for more than 24 hours
D) Seizing and carrying a person with intent to force a third party to act or with
intent to sell or trade the victim
E) Following a person from one location to another
D) Seizing and carrying a person with intent to force a third party to act or
with intent to sell or trade the victim
EXPERT RATIONALE: CRS § 18-3-301 defines first-degree kidnapping as seizing or
enticing a person to go with the offender with intent to force the victim or any other
person to make concessions, give ransom, or with intent to sell, trade, or exchange
the victim — the most serious kidnapping offense.
8. "Menacing" under CRS § 18-3-206 is defined as:
Answers 2026 | Updated Police Officer
Certification Study Guide with Verified
Practice Tests
COLORADO POST REVIEW EXAM 2026
Verified Multiple-Choice Questions | Peace Officer Certification Study Guide
• This guide contains questions aligned with the Colorado POST certification exam,
covering criminal law, use of force, search and seizure, arrest procedures, traffic,
domestic violence, mental health, ethics, and more — each with five answer
choices, a bolded correct answer, and a detailed EXPERT RATIONALE.
• Work through each question independently before checking the correct answer,
then study the EXPERT RATIONALE closely to reinforce understanding and identify
areas needing review.
1. Under Colorado law, which of the following best defines "deadly physical
force"?
A) Any force that causes injury to another person
B) Any force used during the commission of a felony
C) Force used only when a firearm is involved
D) Any force that results in temporary incapacitation
E) Force capable of causing serious bodily injury or death
E) Force capable of causing serious bodily injury or death
EXPERT RATIONALE: CRS § 18-1-901(3)(d) defines deadly physical force as force
whose intended, natural, and probable consequence is to produce death or create
a grave risk of death or serious bodily injury. It is not limited to firearms.
2. Under Colorado law, a "Class 1 felony" is punishable by:
,A) 4 to 16 years in prison
B) 1 to 3 years in prison
C) 6 to 12 months in county jail
D) 2 to 6 years in prison
E) Life imprisonment or the death penalty
E) Life imprisonment or the death penalty
EXPERT RATIONALE: CRS § 18-1.3-401 establishes that a Class 1 felony — the most
serious offense in Colorado — carries a sentence of life imprisonment or the death
penalty. First-degree murder is the primary Class 1 felony.
3. Which of the following is classified as a "Class 1 misdemeanor" under
Colorado law?
A) Petty theft under $300
B) Possession of less than 2 oz. of marijuana in public
C) Criminal mischief causing $300–$999 in damages
D) Trespassing on agricultural land
E) Third-degree assault
E) Third-degree assault
EXPERT RATIONALE: Third-degree assault (CRS § 18-3-204), which involves
knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury to another person, is a Class 1
misdemeanor in Colorado. It carries up to 364 days in jail.
4. Under Colorado law, "serious bodily injury" is defined as:
A) Any injury requiring stitches or a bandage
B) Any broken bone
,C) Any injury resulting in hospitalization
D) Injury causing temporary pain
E) Injury involving a substantial risk of death, permanent disfigurement, or
protracted loss of a body part or organ's function
E) Injury involving a substantial risk of death, permanent disfigurement,
or protracted loss of a body part or organ's function
EXPERT RATIONALE: CRS § 18-1-901(3)(p) defines serious bodily injury as involving
a substantial risk of death, serious permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or
impairment of the function of any body part or organ. It distinguishes from
ordinary "bodily injury."
5. A person commits "theft" in Colorado when they:
A) Knowingly receive stolen property only
B) Intentionally take another's property intending to deprive them of it only
C) Use deception to obtain services without payment only
D) None of the above
E) All of the above
E) All of the above
EXPERT RATIONALE: CRS § 18-4-401 broadly defines theft to include: taking
another's property, receiving stolen property, and obtaining services through
deception — all with intent to permanently deprive the owner. The statute is
comprehensive and covers multiple means of commission.
6. Under Colorado law, first-degree burglary differs from second-degree
burglary in that first-degree burglary requires:
A) Entry through a locked door
B) The theft of property valued over $1,000
, C) Entry during nighttime hours only
D) Two or more persons acting together
E) The offender to assault or menace a person, or be armed with explosives or a
deadly weapon
E) The offender to assault or menace a person, or be armed with
explosives or a deadly weapon
EXPERT RATIONALE: CRS § 18-4-202 provides that first-degree burglary — a Class 3
felony — requires not only unlawful entry with criminal intent but also that the
offender assault or menace any person present, or that the offender or an
accomplice is armed with explosives or a deadly weapon.
7. Under CRS § 18-3-301, which of the following constitutes first-degree
kidnapping?
A) Confining a person to a room without their permission
B) Holding a person against their will for one hour
C) Detaining a person without consent for more than 24 hours
D) Seizing and carrying a person with intent to force a third party to act or with
intent to sell or trade the victim
E) Following a person from one location to another
D) Seizing and carrying a person with intent to force a third party to act or
with intent to sell or trade the victim
EXPERT RATIONALE: CRS § 18-3-301 defines first-degree kidnapping as seizing or
enticing a person to go with the offender with intent to force the victim or any other
person to make concessions, give ransom, or with intent to sell, trade, or exchange
the victim — the most serious kidnapping offense.
8. "Menacing" under CRS § 18-3-206 is defined as:
