What does "reasonable suspicion" allow law enforcement officers to do?

"Reasonable suspicion" allows law enforcement officers to stop and briefly detain a person for questioning based on specific and articulable facts that suggest that the individual may be involved in criminal activity. This standard is lower than the probable cause standard required for arrests, which means officers need to have a reasonable belief based on their observations or the circumstances at hand that a person is engaged in wrongdoing.

When an officer has reasonable suspicion, they can perform what is known as a "Terry stop," named after the Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio. This allows for a brief investigative stop to inquire about the suspected activity, which may involve asking questions or checking for identification. However, this does not give officers the right to conduct a full investigation or any intrusive action like searches without consent or probable cause, unless further evidence emerges during the stop that supports such actions.