COP JARGON Flashcards

Law Enforcement Terminology

• ATF: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, part of the U.S. Treasury Department.
• BCI: Background Criminal Investigation, essential for vetting individuals.
• Beat: Specific area assigned to a police officer for regular patrol.
• Bomb blanket: Layered Kevlar blanket used to contain shrapnel during a bomb explosion.
• CI: Confidential informant, a private source of information for law enforcement.
• Collar: A term used for making an arrest.
• Cop a plea: Pleading guilty to a lesser charge to secure a lighter sentence.
• DEA: Detective Endowment Association, representing detectives’ interests.
• DOA: Acronym for Dead on Arrival, indicating a victim pronounced dead at the scene.
• Do him: Slang for committing murder or assassination.

Informant and Investigation Terms

• Drop a dime: Informing authorities about someone’s criminal activity, historically through payphones.
• EMS: Emergency Medical Services, responsible for ambulance operations.
• Flake: Illegally planting narcotics on a suspect as a justification for arrest.
• Felony: Serious crime punishable by over one year of imprisonment, categorized as A, B, C, D based on severity.
• Get over: To deceive or trick someone.

Legal Processes and Crime Analysis

• Grand jury: Group determining whether there's enough evidence for an indictment, based on credible evidence standards.
• Hit: Can refer to assassination, raiding premises, or diluting drugs.
• M.O.: Modus Operandi, describes an individual's consistent method of committing crimes.
• Predicate felon: A repeat felony offender whose previous crimes impact sentencing for new charges.

Firearms and Equipment

• Mini-14: A .223 caliber semiautomatic carbine made by Strum Ruger.
• MP-5: A well-known 9 mm sub-machine gun manufactured by Heckler and Koch.
• Nagra: High-quality recording device, typically unfamiliar to users regarding operation.

Crime and Social Context

• OC: Organized crime, encompassing structured criminal groups.
• PBA: Policemen's Benevolent Association, a union for police patrol officers.
• Pedigree: Refers to a suspect's identification and criminal history.
• Population: General demographic of prison inmates, providing insight into incarceration trends.
• RICO Act: Statute aimed at prosecuting individuals involved in organized criminal enterprises, enhancing legal action against racketeering.

Miscellaneous Slang and Terms

• Scott airpack: Self-contained breathing apparatus utilized in hazardous environments.
• Skell: A derogatory term for a scruffy, low-life individual.
• Spike: Slang for a syringe commonly used to inject drugs.
• Stroll: Area where streetwalkers or sex workers operate.
• Threads: Casual term for clothing, often used in street language.

Summary of Criminal Justice Terms

• True bill: An indictment issued by a grand jury signifying enough evidence for charges.
• Walther .380: Small semiautomatic pistol, famously associated with fictional figures like James Bond.
• Wiseguy: Slang for individuals affiliated with organized crime, particularly the Mafia.
• Works: Refers to a drug user's paraphernalia for injecting heroin.

Test your knowledge of essential law enforcement terminology with these flashcards. This quiz covers significant acronyms and terms commonly used in police work, such as ATF and BCI. Perfect for those studying criminal justice or preparing for related careers.