Criminal Law
Reasonable Suspicion
Definition
Reasonable suspicion is a standard lower than probable cause, requiring specific and articulable facts that, taken together with rational inferences, justify a brief investigatory stop (a Terry stop). It is more than a mere hunch but less than probable cause. The officer must be able to point to objective facts supporting the suspicion of criminal activity. The stop must be temporary and limited in scope to the purpose of confirming or dispelling the officer's suspicion.
Example
An officer observes a person pacing nervously in front of a jewelry store, peering through the window, and conferring with another person. These articulable facts justify a Terry stop based on reasonable suspicion.