Criminal Justice Practice Exam

Which standard of proof allows a law enforcement officer to stop and frisk a suspect?

1. Conclusive presumption

2. Rebuttable presumption

3. Reasonable suspicion

4. Mere suspicion

The correct answer is: Reasonable suspicion

The standard of proof that allows a law enforcement officer to stop and frisk a suspect is reasonable suspicion. This legal standard requires that an officer has a specific and articulable basis for suspecting that a person is involved in criminal activity. It goes beyond a mere hunch or unclear intuition, implying that the officer must be able to point to particular facts or circumstances that would lead a reasonable officer to suspect that a crime is being committed or is about to be committed. Reasonable suspicion is crucial in the context of stop-and-frisk procedures, as it strikes a balance between individual rights and public safety. It grants officers the authority to temporarily detain and investigate a suspect without the level of proof required for an arrest, which is probable cause. This standard is informed by the totality of the circumstances surrounding the situation at hand, allowing for rapid responses to potentially dangerous situations while still upholding constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. The other standards mentioned do not apply in this context. Conclusive presumption, which implies a definitive conclusion drawn from established facts, and rebuttable presumption, which allows for a conclusion to be drawn but can be contested, involve more definitive evidence than that required for a stop-and-frisk. Mere suspicion lacks the required factual