What is required for a Terry stop to occur?

What is required for a Terry stop to occur?

• A. Probable cause
• B. Consent
• C. Reasonable suspicion
• D. Warrant

Answer: (C)

A Terry stop, stemming from the Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio, requires reasonable suspicion that a person is involved in criminal activity. This standard is lower than probable cause, which is necessary for an arrest or search warrant. Law enforcement officers must have specific articulable facts that lead them to believe that a person may be engaged in wrongdoing, allowing for a limited investigatory stop. In the context of the other choices, probable cause is not required for a Terry stop; it is a higher standard more appropriate for arrests. Consent is not a requirement for a Terry stop, as stops can occur without the officer obtaining consent from the individual. Lastly, a warrant is also not necessary for a Terry stop, as the stop is justified under reasonable suspicion rather than the need for a warrant supported by probable cause.

A Terry stop, stemming from the Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio, requires reasonable suspicion that a person is involved in criminal activity. This standard is lower than probable cause, which is necessary for an arrest or search warrant. Law enforcement officers must have specific articulable facts that lead them to believe that a person may be engaged in wrongdoing, allowing for a limited investigatory stop.

In the context of the other choices, probable cause is not required for a Terry stop; it is a higher standard more appropriate for arrests. Consent is not a requirement for a Terry stop, as stops can occur without the officer obtaining consent from the individual. Lastly, a warrant is also not necessary for a Terry stop, as the stop is justified under reasonable suspicion rather than the need for a warrant supported by probable cause.