DCJS Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield DCJS facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the purpose of a Community Policing Beat Officer maintaining a regular schedule in a specific area? → To build familiarity and relationships with residents and businesses over time
2. An investigator learns that a key witness has died before trial. Which evidentiary rule might allow prior recorded testimony to be admitted? → The Hearsay Exception for Former Testimony
3. An officer is asked by their sergeant to write a report that omits a key fact unfavorable to the department. The officer should: → Write an accurate report and document the sergeant's request
4. After using force, what is an officer's FIRST priority once the scene is safe? → Provide or summon emergency medical attention for any injured person
5. Which of the following BEST defines 'accountability' as it applies to Virginia law enforcement officers? → Accepting responsibility for one's actions and being answerable to the public and the law
6. After executing a search warrant in Virginia and seizing property, what must the officer do with the warrant and the inventory of seized items? → File them in the circuit court clerk's office within three days of the execution.
7. During a hostage or barricade situation involving a subject with apparent mental illness, the FIRST priority of responding officers is: → Containment and de-escalation while awaiting specialized resources
8. Which of the following items generally requires a search warrant to be searched and seized from a private residence, according to Virginia Code § 19.2-53? → Weapons used in the commission of a crime, stored inside a locked safe.
9. An officer observes a mentally ill individual in a public place acting erratically but not threatening anyone. The BEST community policing response is to: → Use de-escalation techniques and connect the individual with mental health resources
10. Which of the following is a core principle of the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics that Virginia officers are expected to uphold? → To safeguard lives and property and respect the constitutional rights of all.
11. A positional asphyxia risk is MOST associated with which restraint situation? → Placing a restrained subject face-down with weight applied to the back
12. Under Virginia law, which agency is primarily responsible for operating community services boards (CSBs) that provide mental health services? → Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS)
13. A witness recants their statement after initially identifying a suspect. What should the investigator do first? → Document the recantation and investigate the reason for the change
14. How can law enforcement ethics impact community relations? → It strengthens relationships by promoting fairness and accountability.
15. What does 'use of force' mean in law enforcement? → Using force as a last resort in appropriate situations.
16. Under Virginia Code § 18.2-266, DUI is established when a driver's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is: → 0.08% or higher
17. Which of the following best describes the concept of 'noble cause corruption' in law enforcement? → Using unethical means to achieve what an officer believes is a just outcome
18. When completing a field sobriety test (FST), which three tests are recognized as standardized by NHTSA? → Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, Walk and Turn, and One Leg Stand
19. When conducting vehicle stops at night, where should the officer position their flashlight beam relative to a subject who may be armed? → At the subject's hands and waistband — the areas most likely to produce a weapon
20. Foot patrol is valued in community policing primarily because it: → Increases direct personal interaction with residents
21. Under Virginia Code § 18.2-57.2, what is required for a domestic assault and battery conviction? → The defendant must have committed assault and battery against a family or household member
22. Under Virginia's felony murder rule, a defendant is guilty of first-degree murder if a death occurs during which of the following crimes? → Arson, rape, robbery, or burglary
23. What is one of the challenges of community policing? → Ensuring officers are trained in community engagement.
24. Which factor is NOT part of the 'totality of circumstances' analysis in a use-of-force review? → The officer's years of service and promotion history
25. Which of the following is a defense to criminal liability? → Self-defense.
26. An emotionally disturbed person advances toward an officer shouting incoherently but is unarmed. The officer's BEST initial response is: → Use verbal commands and create distance while assessing the threat
27. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-81, a law enforcement officer may arrest without a warrant for a misdemeanor only if: → The officer witnesses the offense
28. When an officer is uncertain whether an item found at a crime scene is evidence, the officer should: → Treat it as potential evidence and document it thoroughly
29. An officer posts content on personal social media that mocks a racial group. Under DCJS professional conduct standards, this can result in: → Disciplinary action because it undermines public trust and department integrity
30. What does the acronym BOLO stand for in law enforcement patrol communications? → Be On the Lookout