What is a Terry stop?

A Terry stop refers to a brief detention or stop of a person by law enforcement officers based on reasonable suspicion that the individual is involved in criminal activity. This concept originated from the Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio, where it was established that police officers are allowed to stop and question a person if they have specific and articulable facts that suggest the individual may be involved in criminal behavior. The stop does not require the same level of certainty as an arrest; reasonable suspicion is a lower threshold.

In contrast, a full arrest requires probable cause and is a more intrusive action. Routine checks of identification without cause do not align with the legal standards required for a Terry stop, as they often require a level of suspicion. Similarly, stopping someone solely based on their race does not meet the criteria of reasonable suspicion and is considered discriminatory and unlawful. Therefore, the essence of a Terry stop lies in its focus on the officer's reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, allowing for a brief and temporary detention to investigate further.