True or false: A positive response from an NCIC query guarantees that a person is guilty of a crime.

A positive response from an NCIC query indicates that there is a record associated with the individual in the database, such as prior arrests, warrants, or wanted persons information. However, this record does not equate to guilt. The presumption of innocence is a foundational legal principle, meaning that an individual is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Just because the NCIC system shows a match does not provide evidence of conviction or criminal behavior; it merely reflects the presence of data.

Responses indicating guilt require due process, investigation, and judicial proceedings before any legal conclusions can be drawn. Therefore, the assertion that a positive response guarantees guilt is fundamentally incorrect. This is why the statement is false.