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

What is a key rule when conducting body searches?

1. Start from the feet and work upwards

2. Be hasty to avoid delays

3. Work from top to bottom

4. Only check extremities

The correct answer is: Work from top to bottom

The key rule when conducting body searches is to work from top to bottom. This approach ensures thoroughness and minimizes potential oversight of concealed contraband or weapons. Beginning at the head and moving downward allows the officer to control the search process effectively, maintaining a systematic method that is both safe for the officer and respectful toward the individual being searched. Starting the search at the top helps in maintaining a comprehensive strategy, as it addresses areas where items may be more easily concealed, such as in clothing or under hair. This method also reduces the risk of inadvertently missing items that could be more harmful or important if not found during the search process. While other approaches may have their merits, such as beginning at the feet, they do not adhere to the best practices that establish a unified protocol for safety and effectiveness during searches. Working quickly or checking only extremities would compromise the thoroughness needed in law enforcement procedures.