What are Terry stops?

Terry stops are identified as brief detentions by law enforcement based on a reasonable suspicion that a person may be involved in criminal activity. This concept originates from the landmark Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio, which established that police officers are permitted to stop and briefly detain individuals for investigative purposes when they have a specific and articulable suspicion of criminal behavior.

These stops are distinct because they do not require the higher standard of probable cause that is needed for an arrest; instead, the reasonable suspicion standard allows officers to act quickly to prevent potential crimes or gather more information about suspicious circumstances. The scope of this detention is limited in duration and intensity, allowing officers to question the individual and, if justified, conduct a pat-down for weapons if they have concerns about safety.

In contrast, long-term detentions based on past behavior or arrests made without warrants involve different legal standards and implications that do not apply to the nature of Terry stops. Additionally, investigation arrests following a crime in progress are more comprehensive and typically require a stronger evidentiary basis than what is permitted for a Terry stop. Thus, the correct choice accurately captures the essence of what constitutes a Terry stop in the context of criminal procedure.