Under Terry v. Ohio, when may a stop-and-frisk be conducted, and what must be shown?

Study for the Central New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Exam 1. Engage in interactive flashcards and in-depth multiple choice questions covering essential aspects of law enforcement. Prepare efficiently and ensure success!

The idea being tested is the Terry stop-and-frisk standard: a stop and limited pat-down are allowed only when there is reasonable suspicion that the person is armed and dangerous. This is different from a full-blown probable-cause-based search or an arrest. The frisk must be narrowly tailored to ensure the officer’s safety, so it is limited to a quick pat-down of the outer clothing to feel for weapons. If the officer does not sense a weapon, the stop ends; if something that could be a weapon is felt, the frisk can justify securing the weapon, but the search itself remains limited to determining whether a weapon is present. Warrantless stops are permitted under this rule, but not suspicionless frisks.