Louisiana POST Actual exam 2026/2027 |
Peace Officer Standards & Training Exam
Prep with Questions with Detailed Answers
Question 1
Under Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 14, which of the following is an essential element of
first-degree murder?
A. The killing was committed without any intent to kill
B. The killing was committed with specific intent to kill or to inflict great bodily harm and
involved an aggravating circumstance [CORRECT]
C. The killing was committed by criminal negligence
D. The killing was accidental during a lawful activity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: First-degree murder under La. R.S. 14:30 requires specific intent to kill or inflict great
bodily harm plus the presence of an aggravating circumstance (e.g., victim was a peace officer
engaged in duties, killing occurred during an armed robbery, killing was for hire, killing involved
torture). Option A describes negligent homicide or manslaughter. Option C describes negligent
homicide under La. R.S. 14:32. Option D describes an accidental death without criminal
culpability.
Question 2
Simple burglary under La. R.S. 14:62 is defined as:
A. Unauthorized entry of a dwelling, vehicle, watercraft, or other structure with intent to commit
a felony or theft therein [CORRECT]
B. Unauthorized entry of a vehicle only with intent to commit a felony or theft
C. Taking property from a person by force or intimidation
D. Setting fire to an inhabited building with intent to destroy it
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Simple burglary under La. R.S. 14:62 is the unauthorized entry of any dwelling,
vehicle, watercraft, or other structure with the intent to commit a felony or theft therein. Option
,B is too narrow—simple burglary includes dwellings and other structures. Option C describes
robbery (La. R.S. 14:64). Option D describes aggravated arson (La. R.S. 14:51).
Question 3
Aggravated battery under La. R.S. 14:34 is committed when:
A. A person intentionally uses force or violence upon another without a weapon
B. A person intentionally uses force or violence upon another with a dangerous weapon
[CORRECT]
C. A person unintentionally causes serious bodily injury to another
D. A person threatens to use force or violence upon another
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Aggravated battery (La. R.S. 14:34) is a battery committed with a dangerous weapon.
Simple battery (Option A) is intentional use of force without a dangerous weapon (La. R.S.
14:33). Option C describes negligent injuring (La. R.S. 14:39). Option D describes assault (La.
R.S. 14:36), which is the attempt or threat to commit a battery.
Question 4
Theft under La. R.S. 14:67 requires which of the following elements?
A. The taking of property with the express consent of the owner
B. The misappropriation or taking of anything of value belonging to another without consent,
either without the use of force or with the use of force without intentional infliction of serious
bodily injury [CORRECT]
C. The intentional destruction of property belonging to another
D. The taking of property from the person of another by force or intimidation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Theft (La. R.S. 14:67) is the misappropriation or taking of anything of value without
consent. It differs from robbery (Option D) because theft does not involve force or intimidation
against a person. Option A describes a lawful transfer. Option C describes criminal damage to
property (La. R.S. 14:56).
Question 5
Under La. R.S. 14:24, principals to a crime include:
A. Only the person who physically commits the criminal act
,B. All persons concerned in the commission of a crime, whether present or absent, and whether
they directly commit the act constituting the offense, aid and abet in its commission, or directly
or indirectly counsel or procure another to commit the crime [CORRECT]
C. Only the person who planned the crime but was not present
D. Only persons who receive stolen property after the crime
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Louisiana law defines principals broadly under La. R.S. 14:24 to include all
participants in criminal activity. This includes the actual perpetrator, aiders and abettors, and
those who counsel or procure the crime. Option A excludes accomplices. Option C excludes the
actual perpetrator. Option D describes the separate crime of illegal possession of stolen things
(La. R.S. 14:69).
Question 6
Second-degree murder under La. R.S. 14:30.1 includes which of the following?
A. The killing of a human being when the offender has a specific intent to kill or to inflict great
bodily harm [CORRECT]
B. The killing of a human being without any intent to cause death or great bodily harm
C. The killing of a human being by criminal negligence
D. The killing of a human being during a misdemeanor only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Second-degree murder (La. R.S. 14:30.1) is the killing of a human being when the
offender has a specific intent to kill or to inflict great bodily harm. It lacks the aggravating
circumstances required for first-degree murder. Option B describes manslaughter or negligent
homicide depending on circumstances. Option C describes negligent homicide (La. R.S. 14:32).
Option D is incorrect—second-degree murder can occur during felonies (felony murder rule) but
not misdemeanors.
Question 7
Manslaughter under La. R.S. 14:31 is:
A. A homicide committed with specific intent to kill and with aggravating circumstances
B. A homicide committed in sudden passion or heat of blood immediately caused by provocation
sufficient to deprive an average person of his self-control and cool reflection, or a homicide
committed without any intent to cause death or great bodily harm [CORRECT]
C. A homicide committed with premeditation and deliberation
, D. A homicide committed only during the commission of a felony
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Manslaughter (La. R.S. 14:31) includes: (1) a homicide committed in sudden passion
or heat of blood caused by provocation sufficient to deprive an average person of self-control, or
(2) a homicide committed without any intent to cause death or great bodily harm. Option A
describes first-degree murder. Option C describes first-degree murder. Option D describes felony
murder, which is second-degree murder in Louisiana.
Question 8
Domestic abuse battery under La. R.S. 14:35.3 requires:
A. Battery committed by a stranger against any person
B. Battery committed by one household member or family member against another household
member or family member [CORRECT]
C. Battery committed only by a spouse against another spouse
D. Battery committed only against a child
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Domestic abuse battery (La. R.S. 14:35.3) is battery committed by one household
member or family member against another. "Household member" includes persons of any age
who are presently living together or who have lived together in the past, and children. "Family
member" includes spouses, former spouses, parents, children, stepparents, stepchildren, and
other relatives. Option A describes simple battery. Option C is too narrow—includes cohabitants
and former spouses. Option D is too narrow—includes adult victims.
Question 9
Aggravated assault under La. R.S. 14:37 is:
A. An attempt to commit a battery without a dangerous weapon
B. An assault committed with a dangerous weapon [CORRECT]
C. A completed battery with a dangerous weapon
D. Threatening words without any physical act
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Aggravated assault (La. R.S. 14:37) is an assault committed with a dangerous weapon.
Simple assault (La. R.S. 14:36) is an attempt to commit a battery or the intentional placing of
another in reasonable apprehension of receiving a battery, without a dangerous weapon. Option
Peace Officer Standards & Training Exam
Prep with Questions with Detailed Answers
Question 1
Under Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 14, which of the following is an essential element of
first-degree murder?
A. The killing was committed without any intent to kill
B. The killing was committed with specific intent to kill or to inflict great bodily harm and
involved an aggravating circumstance [CORRECT]
C. The killing was committed by criminal negligence
D. The killing was accidental during a lawful activity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: First-degree murder under La. R.S. 14:30 requires specific intent to kill or inflict great
bodily harm plus the presence of an aggravating circumstance (e.g., victim was a peace officer
engaged in duties, killing occurred during an armed robbery, killing was for hire, killing involved
torture). Option A describes negligent homicide or manslaughter. Option C describes negligent
homicide under La. R.S. 14:32. Option D describes an accidental death without criminal
culpability.
Question 2
Simple burglary under La. R.S. 14:62 is defined as:
A. Unauthorized entry of a dwelling, vehicle, watercraft, or other structure with intent to commit
a felony or theft therein [CORRECT]
B. Unauthorized entry of a vehicle only with intent to commit a felony or theft
C. Taking property from a person by force or intimidation
D. Setting fire to an inhabited building with intent to destroy it
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Simple burglary under La. R.S. 14:62 is the unauthorized entry of any dwelling,
vehicle, watercraft, or other structure with the intent to commit a felony or theft therein. Option
,B is too narrow—simple burglary includes dwellings and other structures. Option C describes
robbery (La. R.S. 14:64). Option D describes aggravated arson (La. R.S. 14:51).
Question 3
Aggravated battery under La. R.S. 14:34 is committed when:
A. A person intentionally uses force or violence upon another without a weapon
B. A person intentionally uses force or violence upon another with a dangerous weapon
[CORRECT]
C. A person unintentionally causes serious bodily injury to another
D. A person threatens to use force or violence upon another
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Aggravated battery (La. R.S. 14:34) is a battery committed with a dangerous weapon.
Simple battery (Option A) is intentional use of force without a dangerous weapon (La. R.S.
14:33). Option C describes negligent injuring (La. R.S. 14:39). Option D describes assault (La.
R.S. 14:36), which is the attempt or threat to commit a battery.
Question 4
Theft under La. R.S. 14:67 requires which of the following elements?
A. The taking of property with the express consent of the owner
B. The misappropriation or taking of anything of value belonging to another without consent,
either without the use of force or with the use of force without intentional infliction of serious
bodily injury [CORRECT]
C. The intentional destruction of property belonging to another
D. The taking of property from the person of another by force or intimidation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Theft (La. R.S. 14:67) is the misappropriation or taking of anything of value without
consent. It differs from robbery (Option D) because theft does not involve force or intimidation
against a person. Option A describes a lawful transfer. Option C describes criminal damage to
property (La. R.S. 14:56).
Question 5
Under La. R.S. 14:24, principals to a crime include:
A. Only the person who physically commits the criminal act
,B. All persons concerned in the commission of a crime, whether present or absent, and whether
they directly commit the act constituting the offense, aid and abet in its commission, or directly
or indirectly counsel or procure another to commit the crime [CORRECT]
C. Only the person who planned the crime but was not present
D. Only persons who receive stolen property after the crime
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Louisiana law defines principals broadly under La. R.S. 14:24 to include all
participants in criminal activity. This includes the actual perpetrator, aiders and abettors, and
those who counsel or procure the crime. Option A excludes accomplices. Option C excludes the
actual perpetrator. Option D describes the separate crime of illegal possession of stolen things
(La. R.S. 14:69).
Question 6
Second-degree murder under La. R.S. 14:30.1 includes which of the following?
A. The killing of a human being when the offender has a specific intent to kill or to inflict great
bodily harm [CORRECT]
B. The killing of a human being without any intent to cause death or great bodily harm
C. The killing of a human being by criminal negligence
D. The killing of a human being during a misdemeanor only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Second-degree murder (La. R.S. 14:30.1) is the killing of a human being when the
offender has a specific intent to kill or to inflict great bodily harm. It lacks the aggravating
circumstances required for first-degree murder. Option B describes manslaughter or negligent
homicide depending on circumstances. Option C describes negligent homicide (La. R.S. 14:32).
Option D is incorrect—second-degree murder can occur during felonies (felony murder rule) but
not misdemeanors.
Question 7
Manslaughter under La. R.S. 14:31 is:
A. A homicide committed with specific intent to kill and with aggravating circumstances
B. A homicide committed in sudden passion or heat of blood immediately caused by provocation
sufficient to deprive an average person of his self-control and cool reflection, or a homicide
committed without any intent to cause death or great bodily harm [CORRECT]
C. A homicide committed with premeditation and deliberation
, D. A homicide committed only during the commission of a felony
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Manslaughter (La. R.S. 14:31) includes: (1) a homicide committed in sudden passion
or heat of blood caused by provocation sufficient to deprive an average person of self-control, or
(2) a homicide committed without any intent to cause death or great bodily harm. Option A
describes first-degree murder. Option C describes first-degree murder. Option D describes felony
murder, which is second-degree murder in Louisiana.
Question 8
Domestic abuse battery under La. R.S. 14:35.3 requires:
A. Battery committed by a stranger against any person
B. Battery committed by one household member or family member against another household
member or family member [CORRECT]
C. Battery committed only by a spouse against another spouse
D. Battery committed only against a child
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Domestic abuse battery (La. R.S. 14:35.3) is battery committed by one household
member or family member against another. "Household member" includes persons of any age
who are presently living together or who have lived together in the past, and children. "Family
member" includes spouses, former spouses, parents, children, stepparents, stepchildren, and
other relatives. Option A describes simple battery. Option C is too narrow—includes cohabitants
and former spouses. Option D is too narrow—includes adult victims.
Question 9
Aggravated assault under La. R.S. 14:37 is:
A. An attempt to commit a battery without a dangerous weapon
B. An assault committed with a dangerous weapon [CORRECT]
C. A completed battery with a dangerous weapon
D. Threatening words without any physical act
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Aggravated assault (La. R.S. 14:37) is an assault committed with a dangerous weapon.
Simple assault (La. R.S. 14:36) is an attempt to commit a battery or the intentional placing of
another in reasonable apprehension of receiving a battery, without a dangerous weapon. Option
