What is the main characteristic of a 'frisk' in law enforcement?

The main characteristic of a 'frisk' in law enforcement is that it is focused on outer clothing only. This procedure, often referred to as a "Terry stop" after the landmark Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio, allows officers to perform a brief, limited pat-down of a person's outer garments. The purpose of a frisk is to ensure officer safety by determining if the person is carrying any weapons or dangerous items, while not delving into personal belongings or conducting a full search.

Frisks are grounded in the concept of reasonable suspicion, enabling officers to act on their instincts and knowledge of the situation without needing to establish the higher threshold of probable cause that is required for more invasive searches or warrants.