North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) State Practice Exam

Is an AOC response indicating an unserved warrant on an individual probable cause to arrest that individual?

1. Yes, it is sufficient probable cause

2. No, it is not probable cause

3. Only if the warrant is less than a month old

4. Yes, if confirmed by a supervisor

The correct answer is: No, it is not probable cause

An AOC response indicating an unserved warrant on an individual does not constitute probable cause for arrest. Probable cause requires a reasonable belief that a crime has been committed or that specific evidence of a crime can be found. An unserved warrant in itself just indicates that a warrant exists but does not provide the officer with information about the circumstances surrounding the warrant or the immediacy of the particular situation that may necessitate an arrest. Therefore, additional information or context regarding the warrant would be needed to establish probable cause. In contrast, the other options suggest conditions or scenarios that either may imply a higher standard or an incorrect interpretation of the implications of an unserved warrant. For instance, a time constraint on the warrant or confirmation from a supervisor might suggest reliance on specific departmental protocols rather than on the legal standard of probable cause itself.