APCAT APCAT - Alberta Police Cognitive Ability Police Vocabulary and Spelling 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is the correct spelling of the term for a sworn statement made under oath?
- Afidavit
- Affadavit
- Affidavit (Correct answer)
- Afidavid
Correct answer: Affidavit
'Affidavit' is the correct spelling — double 'f' followed by 'i', not 'a'.
'Affidavit' comes from Latin and is a foundational legal document in policing. Officers regularly encounter, prepare, or reference affidavits. Common misspellings include 'affadavit' (wrong vowel) and 'afidavit' (missing one 'f').
Question 2: What does the term 'exculpatory' mean in a legal and police context?
- Tending to prove guilt
- Relating to evidence collection
- Tending to clear a person from blame or fault (Correct answer)
- Describing a warrant for arrest
Correct answer: Tending to clear a person from blame or fault
'Exculpatory' means tending to exonerate or clear a suspect of blame or guilt.
Exculpatory evidence tends to prove innocence. Police officers and Crown prosecutors have legal obligations under Canadian law to disclose exculpatory evidence to the defence (Stinchcombe disclosure rules).
Question 3: Choose the correctly spelled word meaning to officially take possession of property as evidence.
- Seeze
- Sieize
- Seize (Correct answer)
- Seise
Correct answer: Seize
'Seize' is the correct spelling — an exception to the 'i before e' rule.
'Seize' is one of the exceptions to the standard spelling rule. Officers seize property during searches and arrests. The term appears frequently in police reports and warrant documentation.
Question 4: What is a 'recognizance' in Canadian criminal procedure?
- A formal charge laid by the Crown
- A court order to search a property
- A written promise by an accused to comply with conditions and appear in court (Correct answer)
- A warrant issued for a suspect's arrest
Correct answer: A written promise by an accused to comply with conditions and appear in court
A recognizance is a binding promise an accused makes to comply with conditions and appear in court, often instead of being held in custody.
A recognizance (also called a 'release order' under the Criminal Code of Canada) is signed by an accused promising to abide by conditions set by a justice and to appear in court. It is an alternative to pre-trial custody.
Question 5: Which sentence uses the word 'principal' correctly in a police context?
- The principal evidence was excluded by the judge.
- The principal officer made the arrest on scene.
- The school principal called police about a trespasser.
- Both A and C are correct uses. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Both A and C are correct uses.
'Principal' as an adjective means 'main/most important' (principal evidence) and as a noun means the head of a school. Both A and C use the word correctly.
Option A uses 'principal' as an adjective meaning 'main' — correct. Option C uses 'principal' as the head of a school — also correct. 'Principle' (with 'le') refers to a rule or belief and should not be confused with 'principal'.
Question 6: Which of the following is the correct term for a court order requiring a person to refrain from certain actions, often used in domestic situations in Canada?
- Injunction
- Prohibition order
- Peace bond (Correct answer)
- Restraining order
Correct answer: Peace bond
A peace bond (Section 810 of the Criminal Code) is the specific Canadian legal instrument used to prevent feared harm, including in domestic situations.
In Canadian criminal law, the instrument used when someone fears harm from another person is a peace bond under s. 810 of the Criminal Code. Officers must know correct Canadian legal terminology to communicate accurately with courts and prosecutors.
APCAT APCAT - Alberta Police Cognitive Ability Police Vocabulary and Spelling 2
Which of the following is the correct spelling of the term for a sworn statement made under oath?