Mississippi Security Guard
Practice Test

A. Mississippi Department of Public Safety

B. Mississippi Board of Private Investigators and Security Guards ✓

C. Mississippi Attorney General's Office

D. Mississippi Department of Labor

Correct — B. The Mississippi Board of Private Investigators and Security Guards (MPISG) oversees licensing, regulation, and discipline of private security personnel in the state. All applicants must meet the board's requirements before working as a security guard.

A. Officer presence and verbal communication ✓

B. Pepper spray deployment

C. Physical restraint

D. Deadly force

Correct — A. The force continuum starts at the lowest level—officer presence and verbal commands—and escalates only as necessary based on the subject's behavior. Guards should always attempt the least forceful means sufficient to resolve the situation.

A. The Mississippi National Guard code

B. Federal law enforcement statutes

C. The authority granted by the property owner or employer ✓

D. Direct appointment by the county sheriff

Correct — C. Private security guards derive their authority from the property owner or employer who hires them, along with Mississippi statutes governing private security. They do not have the broad police powers of sworn law enforcement officers.

A. Any force a guard personally feels is justified

B. Force approved in advance by the client company

C. Force that is proportional to the threat and no greater than necessary to achieve a lawful objective ✓

D. The maximum force authorized by the guard's training certificate

Correct — C. Reasonable force is the legal standard requiring that the level of force used be proportionate to the threat encountered and no greater than necessary to accomplish a lawful purpose. Excessive force beyond what is reasonably necessary is unlawful.

A. Monitoring the premises and documenting incidents without taking enforcement action ✓

B. Arresting suspects and detaining them until police arrive

C. Conducting investigations as authorized by the district attorney

D. Issuing citations and fines to trespassers

Correct — A. An 'observe and report' role means the guard's primary duty is to watch for and document suspicious activity, then notify law enforcement rather than intervening directly. This is the most common security function and minimizes legal liability.

A. The subject verbally threatens the guard

B. The guard believes the situation might become dangerous

C. The guard is outnumbered by unarmed individuals

D. The guard reasonably believes they or another person faces imminent death or serious bodily injury ✓

Correct — D. Deadly force is only justified when there is an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm to the guard or another person. Verbal threats alone, without the means and opportunity to carry them out, generally do not justify deadly force.

A. A warrant issued by a judge

B. Written permission from the property owner

C. Radio contact with local police at the time of arrest

D. Witnessed the felony being committed or have strong reason to believe a felony was committed ✓

Correct — D. Mississippi follows the common law citizen's arrest standard: a private person may arrest another if a felony was committed in their presence or if they have reasonable grounds to believe the person committed a felony. Misdemeanor citizen's arrests are generally not permitted without witnessing the act.

A. Allow guards to avoid writing incident reports

B. Can resolve conflicts without resorting to physical force, reducing injury and liability ✓

C. Are required by federal law for all security personnel

D. Guarantee that suspects will comply with guard instructions

Correct — B. De-escalation techniques—such as calm communication, active listening, and creating space—reduce tension and can resolve situations without physical contact. This protects both the guard and the subject while minimizing legal exposure.