A Terry stop allows police to stop and frisk when there is which level of suspicion?

A Terry stop allows police to stop and frisk when there is which level of suspicion?

• A. Probable cause
• B. Preponderance of the evidence
• C. Reasonable suspicion that the person is armed
• D. Absolute certainty

Answer: (C)

Terry stops hinge on reasonableness, not certainty. An officer may briefly detain someone when there is reasonable suspicion that criminal activity is afoot. If, during that stop, there is reasonable suspicion that the person is armed and dangerous, the officer may conduct a frisk to check for weapons. This combination reflects the specific threshold for a protective frisk on a stopped person. Probable cause or absolute certainty is a higher bar than what Terry stops require, and civil standards like preponderance of the evidence don’t apply here.

Terry stops hinge on reasonableness, not certainty. An officer may briefly detain someone when there is reasonable suspicion that criminal activity is afoot. If, during that stop, there is reasonable suspicion that the person is armed and dangerous, the officer may conduct a frisk to check for weapons. This combination reflects the specific threshold for a protective frisk on a stopped person. Probable cause or absolute certainty is a higher bar than what Terry stops require, and civil standards like preponderance of the evidence don’t apply here.