What is a Terry stop and what justification supports it?

What is a Terry stop and what justification supports it?

• A. A brief stop and frisk based on reasonable suspicion that the person is involved in criminal activity and may be armed.
• B. An extended detention requiring probable cause and a warrant.
• C. A search that requires probable cause but not a warrant.
• D. A stop based on anonymous tip alone.

Answer: (A)

A Terry stop is a brief, noncustodial stop that allows a police officer to brief a person and, if necessary for safety, frisk the outer clothing for weapons when the officer has reasonable, articulable suspicion that the person is involved in criminal activity and may be armed. This standard comes from Terry v. Ohio, which permits a limited intrusion to provide safety while investigating possible wrongdoing. The stop is temporary and ends once the suspicion is dispelled or clarified; any frisk is strictly for weapons and only if there’s a reasonable belief the person could be armed. Why this fits best: it captures the essence of a short stop based on reasonable suspicion and the limited safety frisk for weapons. The other options describe scenarios that require more than Terry permits—extended detention with probable cause and a warrant; a broad search requiring probable cause; or a stop based solely on an anonymous tip—none of which align with the Terry framework.

A Terry stop is a brief, noncustodial stop that allows a police officer to brief a person and, if necessary for safety, frisk the outer clothing for weapons when the officer has reasonable, articulable suspicion that the person is involved in criminal activity and may be armed. This standard comes from Terry v. Ohio, which permits a limited intrusion to provide safety while investigating possible wrongdoing. The stop is temporary and ends once the suspicion is dispelled or clarified; any frisk is strictly for weapons and only if there’s a reasonable belief the person could be armed.

Why this fits best: it captures the essence of a short stop based on reasonable suspicion and the limited safety frisk for weapons. The other options describe scenarios that require more than Terry permits—extended detention with probable cause and a warrant; a broad search requiring probable cause; or a stop based solely on an anonymous tip—none of which align with the Terry framework.