What level of suspicion is required for a brief investigative stop?

• A. Reasonable suspicion based on specific, articulable facts.
• B. Probable cause
• C. No suspicion is required
• D. Solely the officer's intuition

Answer: (A)

A brief investigative stop is justified when an officer has reasonable suspicion based on specific, articulable facts that criminal activity may be afoot. This standard sits between a mere hunch and probable cause, and it’s judged by the totality of the circumstances. The facts must be observable and describable, not based on vague intuition. Examples include a person who matches a recent suspect’s description in the relevant area, someone acting oddly or furtively in a context suggesting wrongdoing, or behavior that occurs shortly after a crime.

The stop should be limited in time and scope, aimed at quickly confirming or dispelling the suspicion. If more evidence is needed for an arrest or search, the officer would typically need probable cause. And if there’s a reasonable belief the person is armed, a protective frisk may be conducted under the same reasonable-suspicion standard.