SCCJA Block 3 Flashcards

Active Shooter Concepts

• An active shooter is an individual whose actions are immediately causing death and serious injury, creating a non-contained crisis with a high risk to victims.
• Difference between active shooter and hostage/barricaded suspect: Active shooter situations require rapid deployment to stop the threat, while hostage situations focus on containment and gathering information.

Preparation and Deployment

• Preparing for an active shooter involves understanding past incidents, noting pre-attack indicators, walking through potential locations, and maintaining readiness with proper equipment and mental preparedness.
• Initial deployment procedures include secretive and rapid approaches, ensuring officer safety before engaging with the suspect, and effective communication upon arrival at the scene.

Officer Movement and Tactics

• Efficient movement toward the threat is essential; utilize cover and maintain speed to achieve tactical advantages.
• Deployment strategies vary by the number of officers involved:
  • Single officer must be prepared, while pairs can provide contact and cover roles.
  • Larger groups should form diamond formations to cover wider areas effectively.
• Breaching techniques are necessary for entering secured areas, knowing how to handle various door types.

Interacting with Suspects

• Primary objective in contact with suspects is to neutralize threats effectively and maintain cover.
• Officers must have a survival mindset, which involves decisiveness, aggression, and mental flexibility in high-risk encounters.
• Improvised explosive device (IED) procedures call for a distancing tactic from the device while ensuring the shooter is still pursued.

Understanding Crime and Culture

• Hate crime defined as an offense motivated by bias against identifiable groups, affecting community relations and requiring sensitive handling by law enforcement officers.
• Cultural characteristics are learned behaviors that dictate acceptable societal norms and are constantly changing; no culture exists in complete isolation.

Report Writing Essentials

• An effective law enforcement report must be factual, clear, complete, concise, and in chronological order to ensure accurate documentation of incidents.
• Field notes serve as critical precursors to incident reports, aiding memory retention and the accuracy of details recorded.
• Procedures for documenting details involve the systematic gathering of information, including victim statements and scene examinations.

Interview Techniques

• Effective interviews involve a significant amount of talking from the interviewee (90% time), ensuring officers guide the discussion without interruption or bias.
• Noting physical and psychological reactions during interviews can signal deception; nonverbal cues like posture changes and vocal hesitations are key signs.
• Ending interviews with questions designed to probe the truth, such as "Did you do it?" helps clarify the resolution of the encounter.

Omnibus Adult Protection Act

• Provides a comprehensive approach to adult protection, establishing standardized definitions and duties for addressing issues like abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults.
• Definitions within the Act clarify terms such as abuse, caregiver, and exploitation, ensuring a coherent framework for legal enforcement and protective measures.### Definitions of Key Terms
• Exploitation: Involves forcing vulnerable adults into improper or unlawful activities against their wishes.
• Facility: Encompasses nursing care facilities, community residential care facilities, psychiatric hospitals, or any program operated by relevant health departments.
• Investigative Entity: Includes the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, Adult Protective Services, Vulnerable Adults Investigations Unit, and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
• Neglect: Failure of a caregiver to provide necessary care, leading to risks of physical or mental harm to a vulnerable adult.
• Physical Abuse: Intentional infliction of physical injury or allowing such injury to occur.
• Psychological Abuse: Deliberate intimidation, threats, or harassment causing emotional distress to vulnerable adults.
• Vulnerable Adult: An individual over 18 with physical or mental impairments that hinder self-care or protection.

Dynamics of Vulnerable Adult Victimization

• Caregiver Stress: Overwhelmed caregivers may neglect or abuse vulnerable adults.
• Perpetrator Characteristics: Certain traits or backgrounds increase the likelihood of abuse or neglect.
• Generational Violence: Patterns of violence may repeat across generations, impacting vulnerable adults.
• Self-Abuse/N neglect: Vulnerable adults may neglect their own needs, leading to worse outcomes.

Investigative and Reporting Requirements

• Law enforcement officers must report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation to appropriate entities and face penalties for failing to do so.
• Penalties for non-reporting include misdemeanor charges, fines up to $2,500, or imprisonment for up to one year.

Emergency Protective Custody

• Law enforcement can take vulnerable adults into protective custody without consent if imminent danger exists due to abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
• Immediate notification to Adult Protective Services and the Department of Social Services is required after custody.

Family Court Probable Cause Hearing

• A probable cause hearing for protective custody must be held within 72 hours.

Evidence Collection and Documentation

• Photographs of visible trauma can be taken without consent for vulnerable adults.
• Investigating authorities may request medical exams, and evidence must be documented meticulously for legal processes.

Officer Preparedness and Safety

• Maintaining a distance of 6-8 feet from suspects reduces the risk of injury.
• Deadly mistakes and tactical errors can decrease officer survivability, emphasizing the need for caution and communication.
• Specialized equipment like body armor significantly enhances officers' safety.

Drug Enforcement Strategies

• Arrests often require warrants and adherence to legal standards for searches.
• Field testing kits provide presumptive support but must be complemented with lab confirmation.
• Evidence must be collected and documented thoroughly to maintain integrity throughout the investigation process.

Crime Scene Management

• First responders must prioritize officer and public safety while preserving evidence.
• Proper documentation includes photographing scenes, following search patterns, and ensuring that the chain of custody is maintained.
• Evidence integrity is paramount for a reliable investigation outcome.

Engagement Considerations

• Maintain a survival mindset and be prepared for potential dangers when encountering crime scenes or vulnerable situations.
• Clear communication with family and teammates is essential for effective response and safety.

This set of flashcards focuses on key terms related to active shooter situations and their differences from hostage scenarios. Learn the definitions and important distinctions that are crucial for first responders and law enforcement professionals. Perfect for those studying crisis response and public safety.