What is Reasonable Suspicion
- Steven Topazio wrote this December 3, 2024 at 4:13 pm
Reasonable suspicion is a legal standard used in the U.S. that allows law enforcement officers to stop and briefly detain someone if they have specific and articulable facts that suggest the person is involved in criminal activity. It is a lower standard than probable cause, which is required for arrests or searches.
Reasonable suspicion is based on the officer’s experience and observations, but it cannot be based on a mere hunch or gut feeling. It must be grounded in objective circumstances, such as a person’s behavior, location, or other factors that reasonably indicate potential involvement in criminal conduct. For example, an officer might have reasonable suspicion if someone is loitering in a high-crime area late at night and acting nervously.
In practice, reasonable suspicion allows for brief stops and questioning (such as a Terry stop) but does not justify an arrest or a full search unless more evidence is found.
Photo courtesy of: Jane Palash