What standard justifies a stop and frisk under Terry v. Ohio?

What standard justifies a stop and frisk under Terry v. Ohio?

• A. Reasonable suspicion
• B. Probable cause
• C. Beyond a reasonable doubt
• D. Consent

Answer: (A)

Reasonable suspicion is the standard that justifies a stop and frisk under Terry v. Ohio. When an officer has specific, articulable facts that a person is involved in criminal activity and may be armed, they may briefly detain the person (a stop) and perform a quick pat-down (a frisk) to check for weapons. This standard sits between a mere hunch and probable cause, and it is based on the totality of the circumstances rather than a single factor. If the frisk reveals a weapon, the weapons can be seized and, in some cases, the encounter may evolve into a broader investigation with probable cause. Probable cause is required for arrest or a full search with a warrant, and beyond a reasonable doubt is the standard for conviction. Consent is a separate basis for searching, not the trigger for a Terry stop.

Reasonable suspicion is the standard that justifies a stop and frisk under Terry v. Ohio. When an officer has specific, articulable facts that a person is involved in criminal activity and may be armed, they may briefly detain the person (a stop) and perform a quick pat-down (a frisk) to check for weapons. This standard sits between a mere hunch and probable cause, and it is based on the totality of the circumstances rather than a single factor. If the frisk reveals a weapon, the weapons can be seized and, in some cases, the encounter may evolve into a broader investigation with probable cause. Probable cause is required for arrest or a full search with a warrant, and beyond a reasonable doubt is the standard for conviction. Consent is a separate basis for searching, not the trigger for a Terry stop.