To justify a Terry stop, which standard applies?

• A. Probable cause to arrest
• B. Reasonable suspicion that the person is armed or involved in criminal activity
• C. Consent
• D. A warrant

Answer: (B)

Reasonable suspicion is the standard for a Terry stop. It means the officer has specific, articulable facts suggesting the person is involved in criminal activity, enough to briefly detain for investigation but not enough for an arrest. The phrase in the option aligns with this: it references reasonable suspicion that the person is involved in criminal activity, and it also covers being armed if a frisk is conducted during the stop. In other words, the stop itself rests on reasonable suspicion of criminal conduct, while a frisk for weapons requires reasonable suspicion the person is armed. This is different from probable cause to arrest (a higher standard), a warrant (not required for a lawful Terry stop), or consent (an exception but not the standard that justifies the stop).