[Redfire SVT]

Just finished my first week in the academy (GA). Loving it so far, I've been doing a lot of studying and the majority of our first test (monday) is the CJ system and GA Criminal Law. We covered maybe 75-100 codes and I've got the majority down but there's some oddball ones that I just can't memorize.

Any tricks?

[blueiron]

We went to plain English after too many code changes within a fifteen year period. Honestly, an intellectual argument can be made for the elimination of codes as an antiquated form of COMSEC and detrimental to multi-agency operations.

There are too many dissimilar codes nationwide and the only way to learn them is by sheer rote, just like trigonometric functions.

[SCSU74]

We're plain English as well. We have 10 codes, nobody uses them though except for very common ones like 10-4, 10-20, and 10-15


Sent from my iPhone... which probably auto-corrected something wrong

[RocPO]

I think he means criminal codes, not radio codes.

[11A]

Where I'm at, we have City Code and the ORC (Ohio Revised Code). I keep my law books in the trunk of the cruiser in case I need them.

But for the most part, you'll end up memorizing the elements needed to charge someone with a specific crime by old fashioned studying and application.

[Redfire SVT]

Criminal codes, should have clarified. Haven't gotten to (if we even will) the other codes. Call codes? I don't even know what they're called.

The basic ones (murder, assault, battery, theft, etc) are fairly easy. Some of the ones I've never heard of with a ton of elements are pretty damn hard to memorize in 2-3 days. Got until Monday though to keep trying!

[collim1]

I still have a traffic code cheat sheet taped to the back of my ticket book and a criminal code cheat sheet on the back of my report folder.

[Patchman]

Originally Posted by RocPO

I think he means criminal codes, not radio codes.

10-4... I mean... oh never mind.

That's why I bought a handy-dandy penal law reference.

[razdog76]

Originally Posted by Redfire SVT

Just finished my first week in the academy (GA). Loving it so far, I've been doing a lot of studying and the majority of our first test (monday) is the CJ system and GA Criminal Law. We covered maybe 75-100 codes and I've got the majority down but there's some oddball ones that I just can't memorize.

Any tricks?

If you are referring to law codes... Throw all that BS out, and randomly insert maritime law and/or joinder.

Seriously study, know what "and" & "or" means, and culpable mental states. I doubt you are going to have to write out every word to 75-100 laws. You will more likely be tested on their application. Additionally, think mainstream.

If you are referring to call codes, they will come as you get dispatched, and handle each one.

Good luck.

[SCSU74]

Ahh ok, makes more sense haha


Sent from my iPhone... which probably auto-corrected something wrong

[blueiron]

They expect you to memorize them? Insane.

As a one time Federal US Attorney for the district of Arizona and distinguished attorney taught us in 1984; never memorize anything when it comes to criminal law. Simply know where in the book it is and look it up every time. It prevents mistakes and is what charging attorneys do. Within a short period of time, you'll know the law and its application.

[Thumpernator]

Which academy in Ga?

[Sam Spade]

What blueiron said.

Be able to recognize that the dude over there is being bad. After you've subdued him using whatever force is appropriate, you can look up the details that need covered in interviews and documented.

[Poohgyrr]

Originally Posted by Redfire SVT

GA Criminal Law. We covered maybe 75-100 codes and I've got the majority down but there's some oddball ones that I just can't memorize. Any tricks?

Flash cards were my friend back when. 3X5 cards are relatively cheap and easy to work with. A rubber band kept them together.

edited: For what it is worth, we still require trainees (during field training) to demonstrate that they have memorized the elements and Code & section for the "common" (including some less common) crimes. I make my trainees complete their own cheat sheet to use, but they still need to know the section and code. And yes, our State legislature just renumbered a ton of weapons codes here - they also didn't supply any money (to replace all the text and reference books, or reprogram all the computers)....

[rockapede]

Frequently used city ordinances (both traffic and criminal) are taped to my ticket book. I've got some state charges (mostly felony assault and drug stuff) memorized, I usually just look them up at the jail. I've got to look up the charge code anyway.

[4949shooter]

This is what statute books are for. The more common statutes you will remember them just from use.

If you are taking a test, concentrate on the codes they went over in class. There is no way you will be able to memorize all the criminal codes. There are too many of them.

[SCSU74]

Originally Posted by rockapede

Frequently used city ordinances (both traffic and criminal) are taped to my ticket book. I've got some state charges (mostly felony assault and drug stuff) memorized, I usually just look them up at the jail. I've got to look up the charge code anyway.

Ours auto fill when we type in the charge, makes it very easy. All traffic citation numbers are in each ticket book.


Sent from my iPhone... which probably auto-corrected something wrong

[rockapede]

Originally Posted by SCSU74

Ours auto fill when we type in the charge, makes it very easy. All traffic citation numbers are in each ticket book.


Sent from my iPhone... which probably auto-corrected something wrong

Our reporting system auto-fills, but I have to fill out a paper gotcha sheet at the jail that requires a statute, charge code, and ncic number for every arrest. Which is funny, because the SO uses the same reporting system for booking, which also auto-fills. But NOooo, I've got to waste several minutes digging through a charge code manual

[jpa]

I don't get why academies still push memorizing criminal/traffic code. All it takes is the legislature to go in and start mucking around and everything you memorized is useless. The Legislative Council Bureau in NV just reorganized the NRS's for traffic law into about 7 different chapters instead of just 3 or 4. Now all the NRS's that I've had memorized for the past 5 years are useless because they have different chapter and subsections. It's screwing up a lot of the guys I work with too.

Good luck and just know the elements of the crime, not chapter and verse. When you're on the street you'll have cheat sheets like everyone else and you can also look it up.

[rockapede]

Originally Posted by jpa

I don't get why academies still push memorizing criminal/traffic code. All it takes is the legislature to go in and start mucking around and everything you memorized is useless. The Legislative Council Bureau in NV just reorganized the NRS's for traffic law into about 7 different chapters instead of just 3 or 4. Now all the NRS's that I've had memorized for the past 5 years are useless because they have different chapter and subsections. It's screwing up a lot of the guys I work with too.

Good luck and just know the elements of the crime, not chapter and verse. When you're on the street you'll have cheat sheets like everyone else and you can also look it up.

Agreed. I was not required to memorize or, for that matter, even pay attention to statute numbers in the academy. Elements only.

[Redfire SVT]

We aren't required to memorize the statute numbers or fine/sentence in years etc.

Just the elements and whether it's a misdemeanor or felony (assuming first offence for simplicity). I just counted on my notes and we covered about that *could* be on the test. A lot of limitations, venue, etc as well. Feeling pretty good about it all at this point.

[Schaffer]

We had our test and needed to know how to apply the codes.





The basic thing we needed to learn was that someone committed a crime. What the crime was at the very instance wasn't entirely important.

[rockapede]

Originally Posted by Redfire SVT

We aren't required to memorize the statute numbers or fine/sentence in years etc.

Just the elements and whether it's a misdemeanor or felony (assuming first offence for simplicity). I just counted on my notes and we covered about that *could* be on the test. A lot of limitations, venue, etc as well. Feeling pretty good about it all at this point.

Did you make sure to memorize Felony Stupidity? That one gets used a lot.

[boomhower]

Never memorized any of them. We have what we call a blue book. It's a book that's, you guessed it, blue. It has pretty much all of the common used charges, mainly traffic and drugs. It's really convenient for citations. For arrests you can look up the charges at your leisure. It's all electronic now anyways. Tell the magistrate what you want to charge and they just look it up by keyword.

[Cochese]

Originally Posted by Sam Spade

What blueiron said.

Be able to recognize that the dude over there is being bad. After you've subdued him using whatever force is appropriate, you can look up the details that need covered in interviews and documented.

Ding.

They don't pay me to be an encyclopedia. I have two states, two counties and three municipalities worth of law and ordinances mushed in my peabrain.

Grab bad guy, arrest same. Then charge appropriately while eating double decker taco supreme and Mtn. Dew baja blast. (like I just did about 8 hours ago )