What does the term "plain feel" refer to in relation to a stop and frisk?

The term "plain feel" refers to the ability of law enforcement officers to identify items during a lawful pat-down that they recognize as contraband or evidence of a crime based on their tactile perception. This concept derives from the broader "plain view" doctrine, which allows officers to seize items that are immediately apparent to them without a warrant when they have a lawful right to be in the position to view or feel those items.

In the context of a stop and frisk, when an officer legitimately conducts a Terry stop—a brief detention based on reasonable suspicion—the pat-down is limited to what is necessary to ensure the officer's safety and to check for weapons. During this process, if an officer feels something that they immediately recognize, based on their experience and training, as potentially illegal (such as illegal drugs or a weapon), they are permitted to seize that item.

This understanding is rooted in the need to balance individual Fourth Amendment rights against the necessity for officers to ensure their safety and the safety of others. The "plain feel" doctrine, thus applies to items that are recognized as contraband during an authorized frisk, confirming that the officer can lawfully seize them based on this recognition.