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

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Prepare for the North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) State Exam with tailored quizzes and multiple-choice questions that provide insights and explanations. Strengthen your knowledge and skills to succeed in your law enforcement career!

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Who is defined as "a person against whom there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed"?

Suspect
Accused
Victim
Defendant

The correct answer is: Suspect

The term that describes "a person against whom there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed" is a suspect. In law enforcement and legal contexts, a suspect is an individual who is being investigated due to evidence or circumstances suggesting they may have engaged in criminal activity. This designation is based on the presence of probable cause, which is a reasonable belief, based on facts, that a crime has occurred or that the person has committed a crime. In contrast, the term accused typically refers to a person who has been formally charged with a crime, usually after the investigative process has concluded. A victim, on the other hand, is the individual who has suffered harm or loss due to the alleged criminal act. Lastly, a defendant is someone who is formally facing charges in a court of law, having moved beyond the initial investigation stage to being legally required to respond to those charges. Each of these roles reflects a different point in the criminal justice process, with the suspect being at the initial stage of investigation.