Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy (NVCJA) Practice Exam

Which of the following is an example of an inculpatory statement?

1. "I was not there when it happened."

2. "He made me do it!"

3. "I had witnesses supporting my claim."

4. "I had no involvement in the incident."

The correct answer is: "He made me do it!"

An inculpatory statement is one that can be used as evidence of a person's guilt or involvement in a crime. In this context, the statement "He made me do it!" implies that the individual acknowledges their participation in a wrongful act but shifts some degree of blame to another person. This admission indicates an involvement in the crime, making it an inculpatory statement. In contrast, the other options demonstrate a denial of involvement or an attempt to distance oneself from the incident, which does not provide evidence of guilt. For instance, claiming that one was not present, had witnesses supporting their claim, or had no involvement in the incident all serve to negate or reject responsibility rather than affirm participation in an illegal action. Therefore, the recognition of personal involvement, as indicated by the correct choice, is what defines it as an inculpatory statement.