What is a "Terry stop"?

A "Terry stop" refers specifically to a brief detention of a person by law enforcement officers based on reasonable suspicion rather than probable cause. This term originates from the landmark Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio, where the Court ruled that officers could stop and briefly detain a person for investigatory purposes if they have specific and articulable facts that lead them to suspect that the person is involved in criminal activity.

The key element of a Terry stop is that it allows police to investigate suspicious behavior without needing the higher burden of proof required for an arrest, which is probable cause. The relationship is that while an arrest requires probable cause, a Terry stop only necessitates a lower standard of reasonable suspicion, meaning the officer must have a particular basis for suspecting that a person is engaged in criminal conduct.

In contrast, prolonged detentions for questioning or arrests without warrants are governed by stricter legal standards. Field investigations are more general and do not imply the same legal protections or justifications that are present during a Terry stop. Thus, the definition of a Terry stop is accurately captured by the option referring to a brief detention based on reasonable suspicion.