Chapter 4: Stop and Frisk pt. 1

A set of flashcards summarizing key vocabulary and concepts related to Stop and Frisk and the 4th Amendment as covered in Chapter 4 of the course.

Stop and Frisk

A police procedure where an officer briefly detains a person for questioning and may perform a pat-down of the outer clothing.

4th Amendment

Part of the U.S. Constitution that protects against unreasonable searches and seizures without a warrant.

Show of Authority

Actions by police that indicate they are exercising authority, which can lead to a stop.

Reasonable Suspicion

A legal standard that requires more than a mere hunch but less than probable cause for a stop.

Seizure

A situation where a person's liberty is taken away, necessitating the need for reasonable suspicion.

Probable Cause

The legal standard that requires more evidence than reasonable suspicion, necessary for obtaining a warrant.

Stop

A brief detention of a person by law enforcement based on reasonable suspicion.

Frisk

A limited pat-down search of a person's outer clothing for weapons by law enforcement.

Voluntary Contact

An interaction where a citizen approaches police or police approach a citizen without it being considered a seizure.

Terry v. Ohio

A landmark Supreme Court case that established the legality of Stop and Frisk under certain circumstances.

Expectation of Privacy

The legal standard that determines whether a person has a reasonable right to privacy in a given situation.

Totality of the Circumstances

An assessment made by law enforcement to consider all factors before determining reasonable suspicion.

Plain View Doctrine

A legal principle that allows law enforcement to seize evidence without a warrant if it is in plain sight.

Emergency Lights

Flashing lights used by police as a show of authority during a stop.

Bulge in Clothing

An indication that a person may be concealing a weapon, which can justify a frisk.

Hearsay Information

Information received from someone who did not witness an event or condition, used in establishing reasonable suspicion.

Anonymous Tip

Information provided by an unknown source that may or may not be credible; may lead to a reasonable stop if corroborated.

Subjective Belief

A personal conviction regarding whether one feels free to leave or decline encounters with police.

Reasonable Person Standard

A legal benchmark used to assess whether a reasonable person would believe they were seized by police.

Investigative Stop

A temporary detention of an individual by police based on reasonable suspicion.

Self-Identification

The act of a police officer identifying themselves during an encounter with a citizen.

Terry Stop

Another term for a stop and frisk, named after the Terry v. Ohio case.

Coercive Encounters

Situations in which interactions with police are perceived to be intimidating or forceful.

Automated Searches

Searches conducted by law enforcement without the need for a warrant, based on specific criteria.

Emergency Situations

Circumstances that may arise where law enforcement may need to act swiftly to protect safety.

Reasonable Man Test

A hypothetical standard used to determine how a reasonable person would act under similar circumstances.

Frisk Justification

Conditions under which a police officer is justified in searching a person for weapons.

High Crime Area

A location recognized for frequent criminal activity that may influence police suspicion.

Indicia of Reliability

Indicators that substantiate the credibility of information used in establishing reasonable suspicion.