MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

True or False: A person guilty of a misdemeanor must be fingerprinted within 48 hours.

1. True

2. False

3. Only if requested

4. False, within 24 hours

The correct answer is: False

The statement is false because there is no blanket requirement for a person guilty of a misdemeanor to be fingerprinted within 48 hours. The specific procedures regarding fingerprinting can vary by jurisdiction and type of offense, and typically fingerprinting is more commonly associated with felony charges rather than misdemeanors. In many cases, law enforcement has discretion regarding when and if someone is fingerprinted, and the timing can be influenced by various factors such as the processing capacity of the facility, the nature of the offense, and department policies. Additionally, the idea that it must be done within a set time frame, such as 48 hours, does not hold universally. In fact, some jurisdictions may have different regulations that specify alternative time frames or conditions under which fingerprinting occurs. Thus, without a specific legal mandate for misdemeanors, the statement is not accurate.