Terry stop-and-frisk is lawful under which condition?

Terry stop-and-frisk is lawful under which condition?

• A. Stop and frisk based on reasonable suspicion
• B. Warrantless search of a vehicle
• C. Surveillance without knowledge
• D. Detaining someone indefinitely

Answer: (A)

The tested concept is that a Terry stop-and-frisk is lawful only when the officer has reasonable suspicion that the person is involved in criminal activity and may be armed. Courts allow a brief stop and a limited pat-down for weapons based on specific, articulable facts that justify a safety concern. The stop must be short and the frisk limited to confirming whether the person is armed; it does not authorize a full search or prolonged detention, and no warrant is required for the stop itself. That’s why the correct condition is reasonable suspicion. The other options describe actions that aren’t permitted under Terry: a warrantless vehicle search requires its own exceptions; surveillance without knowledge would violate constitutional rights; detaining someone indefinitely is not allowed and would violate due process and basic liberty protections.

The tested concept is that a Terry stop-and-frisk is lawful only when the officer has reasonable suspicion that the person is involved in criminal activity and may be armed. Courts allow a brief stop and a limited pat-down for weapons based on specific, articulable facts that justify a safety concern. The stop must be short and the frisk limited to confirming whether the person is armed; it does not authorize a full search or prolonged detention, and no warrant is required for the stop itself.

That’s why the correct condition is reasonable suspicion. The other options describe actions that aren’t permitted under Terry: a warrantless vehicle search requires its own exceptions; surveillance without knowledge would violate constitutional rights; detaining someone indefinitely is not allowed and would violate due process and basic liberty protections.