What is the focus of an investigative stop?

The focus of an investigative stop centers on determining if a crime is currently being committed or is about to be committed. This type of stop is conducted based on reasonable suspicion that a person is involved in criminal activity. The officer needs to have specific facts or circumstances that suggest this potential criminal behavior.

During an investigative stop, law enforcement is not primarily focused on conducting searches or verifying documents unless the situation warrants it based on the information gathered during the stop. The goal is to assess the situation and gather further information that could confirm or dispel the suspicion of criminal activity. This legal standard allows officers to engage with individuals to prevent crime proactively while ensuring that the rights of those individuals are respected.

The other options misinterpret the primary objective of an investigative stop. While searches and questioning may be components of the broader process that follows an initial stop, they do not capture the main purpose, which is to ascertain if criminal activity is occurring or imminent.