The courts
reasonable suspicion
A lower standard than probable cause: specific facts suggesting criminal activity, enough for a brief investigative stop and a pat-down for weapons.
In full
Terry v. Ohio (1968) allowed a brief detention and limited frisk on less than probable cause, provided the officer can articulate specific facts rather than a hunch. The scope of a Terry stop is limited in time and intrusiveness, and the line between a stop and an arrest is litigated constantly.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.