What does "reasonable suspicion" allow an officer to do?

"Reasonable suspicion" is a legal standard that allows a police officer to stop and briefly detain an individual for investigative purposes if the officer has specific and articulable facts that lead them to believe that the person may be involved in criminal activity. This standard is less than "probable cause," which is required for an arrest, but more than a mere hunch or unparticular suspicion.

When an officer has reasonable suspicion, it grants them the ability to conduct a stop and frisk, which involves a pat-down search for weapons for officer safety during the encounter. This is designed to protect both the officer and the individual involved while allowing law enforcement to investigate potential criminal behavior based on observed facts and circumstances.

In doing so, the officer must be able to clearly articulate the reasons for their suspicion, which might include the individual’s behavior, location, or other observable criteria that suggest they may be engaged in a crime. This understanding is fundamental for officers to act within the rights granted to them by the law, ensuring community safety without infringing on individual liberties without justification.