What is "reasonable suspicion"?

"Reasonable suspicion" is a legal standard that allows law enforcement officers to stop and briefly detain an individual based on specific, articulable facts or circumstances that suggest the person may be involved in criminal activity. This is a lower standard than "probable cause," which is required for arrests or obtaining search warrants. Reasonable suspicion enables officers to proactively engage with individuals to ascertain their actions, particularly in situations where immediate identification or intervention is necessary for public safety.

This concept is rooted in the Fourth Amendment, which protects individuals against unreasonable searches and seizures, but recognizes that brief investigatory stops can be justified when officers have a reasonable belief that a person is involved in criminal behavior. The emphasis is on the necessity of specific facts rather than mere hunches or unparticular feelings, ensuring that police have a justified basis for their actions.