What is the primary purpose of a stop and frisk?

The primary purpose of a stop and frisk is to briefly detain an individual for investigative purposes and to conduct a limited search for weapons. This practice is rooted in the need for law enforcement officers to ensure their own safety and the safety of others while conducting their duties. The Fourth Amendment allows officers to stop a person based on a reasonable suspicion that the individual may be involved in criminal activity, but this does not permit a full search of their person or belongings without probable cause.

During a stop and frisk, known formally as a Terry stop, the officer may pat down the outer clothing of the individual to check for weapons if they have a reasonable belief that the person may be armed and dangerous. This limited search is specifically aimed at ensuring safety rather than gathering evidence for prosecution, which is why the other options do not accurately describe the main objective of this practice. The focus is not on making arrests for severe crimes or conducting detailed searches of vehicles, but rather on immediate safety concerns related to potential weapons.