What is required to support a stop and frisk pat down?

To justify a stop and frisk, the standard required is reasonable suspicion that the individual is involved in criminal activity and may possess a weapon. This legal standard was established in the landmark case of Terry v. Ohio, where the Supreme Court ruled that law enforcement officers may stop a person to investigate and may conduct a frisk for weapons if they have a reasonable belief that the person may be armed and dangerous.

Reasonable suspicion is a lower standard than probable cause; it does not require the certainty of guilt required for an arrest or a search warrant, but rather a specific and articulable fact that suggests criminal activity may be afoot. The officer's experience and the totality of the circumstances are taken into account when assessing whether reasonable suspicion exists.

Thus, in this context, the requirement of reasonable suspicion that the suspect has a weapon directly supports the justification for a stop and frisk, allowing law enforcement to ensure their safety and the safety of others.