Court Officer Exam: Memory and Observation

Depending upon your assignment, knowing the rules and implemented policies of the court will often be the primary responsibility of the court officer. Officers who effectuate criminal process will have the use of arrest bulletins and mug shots, but they will be required to memorize key information regarding wanted suspects, such as known associates, hangouts, distinguishing marks or scars, and types of weapons carried and used.
Exam questions use a variety of methods to test your observation and memory skills. You may be shown drawings or photographs of street scenes and then asked questions about what you observed. Often, exams will provide wanted posters of suspects with their pedigree information. You will be asked to recall the suspect's description and the pedigree information.
Some questions test your memory skills by having you read a lengthy, detailed passage within a set amount of time (five to ten minutes is common). The passage is then removed and you are asked to answer multiple-choice questions on the material.

What is Memory?
Memory is the brain's ability to obtain, store, and later retrieve information. Memory is a very complicated process. In fact, it is so complicated that researchers cannot agree on the processes involved with retaining such data, such as how memory works or where memory is actually stored. We tend to have two types of memory: short term and long term. You will be honing your skills to increase your short term memory for the exam. Try to remember as much as you can about the picture or reading you are asked to study, but do not overwhelm yourself. Humans can hold only a certain number of items in their short term memories. If you try to retain too much information, the initial information you obtained will be replaced by the newer information. You can increase your memory storage capacity by practicing your observation skills daily. Try being more observant on your daily walks, train commutes, or drives. Later, see how many items you can recall. You can practice these skills at home as well. Take a deck of playing cards and practice your short term memory with a game of concentration (trying to find matched pairs). Skills practice, coupled with confidence, can go a long way in improving your test score on this part of the exam.

Memorization Tips
Memorization is much easier if you approach the task with the expectation that you will remember what you see or read. When you run through practice questions in this book, prepare your mind before you start. Tell yourself over and over that you will remember what you see or read. Your performance level will rise to meet your expectations.
Yes, it's easy for your brain to seize up in a stressful testing situation. But if you've programmed yourself to stay calm, stay alert, and execute your plan, you'll remember the details when you need them. Your goal is to retain the information long enough to get through this test.
Although memory skills are developed at an early age, they can be enhanced throughout a lifetime. How memory skills are enhanced is as individualized as memory itself. Some are blessed with photographic memory: They look at a passage or picture once and the brain records it like a snapshot. It can be recalled on demand and the information retrieved in detail.
For the majority of the population, other methods are required. The most common time-proven, effective, and inexpensive learning tools are flash cards. They are easily developed with a set of 3" × 5" index cards and can be drafted on any subject matter to be used by the court officer (e.g., general orders, security policies, or legal definitions).

Observation Tips
Some people are naturally observant. However, it's never too late to sharpen, or acquire, strong observation skills.
Newspaper photos make great observation tools. News photos are action oriented and usually have more than one person in the scenes. Sit down in a quiet place, clear your mind, remind yourself for several minutes that you will retain all the details you need when you study the picture, and then turn to the picture and study it for about five minutes. At the end of the time, turn the picture over and write down all the details you can think of in the picture. Make yourself do this as much as possible before test day.
You can practice your observation skills on the way to work or school, too. Instead of sitting in your car waiting for a light to change, look around and say what you see aloud. If you're on a bus or train, you can observe these things silently. You are not only practicing a basic skill you will need to become an excellent court officer, but also training your mind to succeed at whatever memory question the test throws your way.

Practice Questions
Study the following passage for ten minutes. Then, answer questions 1 through 15 based upon what you have just read. Do not refer back to the passage when answering these questions.

On October 9, Court Officer Edmund Bursa of the 16th Municipal Court was assigned an order of eviction for a residential property at 96 Bloomfield Lane, in the matter of Exclusive Property Management v. Cage and all occupants of 96 Bloomfield Lane.
Bursa traveled to the property and met with the plaintiff's agent, Mark Lewandowski. Lewandowski informed Bursa that the address was vacant and the defendants had moved. What was left at the address was furniture and miscellaneous personal effects. Bursa advised that he must examine the address before returning possession to the plaintiff. Lewandowski advised that his company would remove the contents from the property.

96 Bloomfield Lane is a six-room colonial-styled two-story home. There are three bedrooms located on the second floor. There is no basement and no garage. In the utility room on the first floor, Bursa located three plastic storage containers. Bursa opened the first container and discovered stacks of money encased in clear plastic storage bags. Bursa then opened the other two containers and found more money in plastic bags.
Bursa immediately called the city police department. The police responded to the location. Upon examining the money, the officers called for a K-9 unit to determine if any drugs were present. The K-9 arrived and detected the scent of narcotics in the container and on the currency. The police impounded the currency, which totaled $1,489,236. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of cocaine residue on the packaged currency.
On December 22, the police commenced a narcotics forfeiture proceeding in first Superior Court. On December 23, Bursa retained Melissa Hodges of the Mandrich Law Firm and filed a claim for the cash in his individual capacity. The 16th Municipal Court did not file a claim for the money. The city filed an answer to Bursa's claim and moved for summary disposition because the money was generated from narcotics activities and subject to criminal forfeiture. Bursa was acting as the court officer in an official capacity and was not entitled to claim found money as a private citizen.
On March 13, the first Superior Court found for the city and dismissed Bursa's action. The court agreed with the city that the money was a result of a criminal enterprise and was forfeited to the city. The court held that Bursa was acting in his capacity as a court officer and discovered the currency in that capacity. Accordingly, Bursa was not to be rewarded for performing his office. Bursa appealed to the 1st District Court of Appeals.
The Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed the trial court decision 18 months later. The lead opinion was written by Judge Davis Bryant II. The State Supreme Court denied leave to appeal.

Questions:

1. The jurisdictional court is a. 1st Superior Court. b. 7th Superior Court. c. 6th Municipal Court. d. 16th Municipal Court.

2. What is the case title of the eviction action? a. Executive Management Services v. Cagle b. Exclusive Property Management v. Cage c. Exclusive Management Company v. Cage d. Excellent Property Management v. Cartman

3. What was the address where the order of eviction was served? a. 96 Bloomfield Lane b. 96 Bloomfield Court c. 906 Birmingham d. 900 Buckingham Court

4. The plaintiff's agent is a. Michael Lewis. b. Morris Lewandowski. c. Mark Lewandowski. d. Bernard Marks.

5. Bursa discovered the containers in the a. garage. b. basement. c. master bedroom. d. utility room.

6. The money inside the containers was stored in a. plastic storage bags. b. plastic wrap. c. shoe boxes. d. aluminum foil.

7. After arriving at the address and examining the money, the city police a. inventoried the currency and removed it to the station. b. called for a K-9 unit to detect the presence of narcotics on the money. c. called for surveillance units to stake out the house and arrest the tenants. d. called for crime scene investigation team to mark the evidence.

8. The laboratory confirmed the presence of a. heroin. b. marijuana. c. cocaine. d. methamphetamine.

9. The city commenced the forfeiture action for the money on a. November 12. b. December 22. c. December 23. d. January 1.

10. The forfeiture action was commenced in a. First Municipal Court. b. 16th Municipal Court. c. First Superior Court. d. Sixth Superior Court.

11. The attorney retained by Bursa is a. Melissa Hodge. b. Melissa Hodges. c. Melinda Hodges. d. Melissa Howe.

12. What is the amount of money sought by Bursa? a. $1,489,236 b. $1,498,263 c. $1,499,623 d. $1,499,826

13. The city received summary judgment on a. January 10. b. January 23. c. March 11. d. March 13.

14. The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court decision in a. 12 months. b. 16 months. c. 18 months. d. 19 months.

15. The lead opinion in the Court of Appeals was written by a. Brian David Jr. b. Davis Bryant II. c. Bryant Daniels II. d. David Bryant III.

Following these questions is a street scene like those found on some Court Officer exams. Following are several questions about details of the scene. Use this scene to practice your memory skills. Take exactly five minutes to study the picture, and then answer the questions that follow without looking back at the picture.
Check your answers by looking back at the scene. If you get all the questions right, you know you're well prepared for memory questions. If you miss a few, you know you need to spend more time practicing, using the tips previously outlined. Remember, you can improve your memory with practice.

16. What type of sale is advertised at Howard Jeweler? a. 50% off b. 2 for 1 c. going out of business d. 20% to 60% off

17. Which of the following is true about the man wearing the Artie's Deli shirt? a. His sunglasses are black. b. He has a shaved head. c. He has a tattoo on his right arm. d. He wears an earring in his right ear.

18. What is the complete name of the store located directly to the left of Howard Jeweler? a. Photo by Joe b. Photo Discount c. Joe's Photo d. Joe's Discount Photo

19. What is Howard Jeweler's address? a. 2 Cortlandt b. 2A Cortlandt c. 3 Cortlandt d. 3A Cortlandt

20. What is Salon & Spa's phone number? a. 212–555–1605 b. 212–555–1606 c. 212–555–1506 d. 212–555–1505

21. How many bicycles are there in the photograph?

22. There are two young women talking to each other in the photo. Where are they standing? a. at a pay phone kiosk b. next to a rack of sunglasses c. near a bicycle rack d. outside the Salon & Spa entrance

23. What phrase is written on Sushi-Time's awning? a. Sushi & Noodle Restaurant b. Sushi & Noodle c. Sushi d. Sushi Restaurant

24. What is the man wearing the backpack doing in the photograph? a. talking on a cell phone b. looking at the Howard Jeweler window display c. crossing the street d. exiting from Salon & Spa

25. What is the phone number of Artie's Deli? a. 212–555–0856 b. 212–555–5086 c. 212–555–8605 d. 212–555–6805