NYS Following Written Instructions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A court officer receives a memo stating: 'All visitors must sign in before 9:00 AM. Visitors arriving after 9:00 AM must wait in the lobby until escorted.' A visitor arrives at 9:05 AM. What should the court officer do?
- Allow the visitor to sign in and proceed unescorted
- Have the visitor wait in the lobby until escorted (Correct answer)
- Turn the visitor away and ask them to return before 9:00 AM
- Escort the visitor immediately without requiring sign-in
Correct answer: Have the visitor wait in the lobby until escorted
The memo specifies that visitors arriving after 9:00 AM must wait in the lobby until escorted.
Question 2: Procedure 7-B states: 'Evidence bags must be sealed with red tape. If red tape is unavailable, use blue tape and mark the bag 'ALTERNATE SEAL' in black ink.' An officer has only green tape available. What should the officer do?
- Use the green tape and mark the bag 'ALTERNATE SEAL'
- Leave the evidence bag unsealed until red tape is obtained
- Use the green tape without any additional marking
- Seek a supervisor before sealing the bag (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Seek a supervisor before sealing the bag
The procedure only authorizes blue tape as an alternative; green tape is not covered, so supervisor guidance is needed before deviating further.
Question 3: A directive states: 'Inmates in Section A must be counted at 6:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 6:00 PM. Any discrepancy must be reported to the shift supervisor within five minutes.' An officer counts at 12:00 PM and finds one inmate unaccounted for. It is now 12:03 PM. What must the officer do?
- Recount before taking any action
- Report to the shift supervisor immediately (Correct answer)
- Wait until the 6:00 PM count to confirm the discrepancy
- File a written report by end of shift
Correct answer: Report to the shift supervisor immediately
The directive requires reporting any discrepancy to the shift supervisor within five minutes of the count, and two of the five minutes have already passed.
Question 4: Policy 12 reads: 'Court officers must not accept gifts valued over $25 from any party involved in a case. Gifts under $25 may be accepted only if disclosed in writing to the supervising officer within 24 hours.' An attorney gives an officer a $20 gift card. What is required?
- Return the gift card since any gift from case parties is prohibited
- Accept it and make a written disclosure to the supervising officer within 24 hours (Correct answer)
- Accept it with no further action required since it is under $25
- Accept it and verbally notify the supervising officer within 24 hours
Correct answer: Accept it and make a written disclosure to the supervising officer within 24 hours
Gifts under $25 from case parties are permissible only if disclosed in writing to the supervising officer within 24 hours.
Question 5: An instruction sheet states: 'Complete boxes 1 through 5 in order. Do not skip any box. If information for a box is unknown, write 'N/A'.' An officer does not know the defendant's middle name (Box 3). What should the officer write in Box 3?
- Leave Box 3 blank and continue
- Skip Box 3 and note the omission at the bottom of the form
- Write 'N/A' in Box 3 (Correct answer)
- Write 'Unknown' in Box 3
Correct answer: Write 'N/A' in Box 3
The instruction explicitly states to write 'N/A' when information for a box is unknown.
Question 6: Regulation 4.3 states: 'Officers must wear full uniform while on duty. Plain-clothes assignments require written authorization from the precinct commander. Authorization expires after 30 days.' An officer received plain-clothes authorization 35 days ago. May the officer work in plain clothes today?
- Yes, because the authorization was originally valid
- No, because the authorization has expired and must be renewed (Correct answer)
- Yes, if a supervisor verbally reauthorizes the assignment
- No, unless the officer files a new request within the same shift
Correct answer: No, because the authorization has expired and must be renewed
Authorization expires after 30 days, so the 35-day-old authorization is no longer valid and written renewal is required.
Question 7: A notice reads: 'All vehicles in Lot C must display a blue parking permit. Vehicles without a permit must be ticketed and towed if not moved within 30 minutes.' An officer finds a vehicle without a permit at 2:10 PM. At 2:35 PM the vehicle is still there. What action is now required?
- Issue a ticket only; towing is optional
- Issue a ticket and arrange to have the vehicle towed (Correct answer)
- Allow an additional 30 minutes before towing
- Contact the vehicle owner before any action
Correct answer: Issue a ticket and arrange to have the vehicle towed
The notice requires ticketing and towing if the vehicle is not moved within 30 minutes, and the 30-minute window has elapsed.
NYS Following Written Instructions 2
A court officer receives a memo stating: 'All visitors must sign in before 9:00 AM.
Visitors arriving after 9:00 AM must wait in the lobby until escorted.' A visitor arrives at 9:05 AM.
What should the court officer do?