The burden of proof for the detention of a suspect from law enforcement (stopping them to investigate) is what?

The burden of proof for the detention of a suspect from law enforcement (stopping them to investigate) is what?

• A. Reasonable Suspicion
• B. Probable Cause
• C. Beyond a reasonable doubt
• D. Preponderance of the evidence

Answer: (A)

Reasonable suspicion is the burden of proof for an investigative detention. It requires specific, articulable facts and rational inferences from those facts that would lead a reasonable officer to believe that the person is involved in or about to be involved in criminal activity. It’s more than a mere hunch but less than probable cause. This standard, rooted in Terry v. Ohio, lets police briefly stop and question someone and, in some cases, perform a limited frisk if there’s a credible risk of danger. The stop must be narrowly tailored to the investigation in scope and duration. By comparison, probable cause is needed to arrest or search, beyond a reasonable doubt is the standard for proving guilt in court, and preponderance of the evidence is the civil standard of proof.

Reasonable suspicion is the burden of proof for an investigative detention. It requires specific, articulable facts and rational inferences from those facts that would lead a reasonable officer to believe that the person is involved in or about to be involved in criminal activity. It’s more than a mere hunch but less than probable cause. This standard, rooted in Terry v. Ohio, lets police briefly stop and question someone and, in some cases, perform a limited frisk if there’s a credible risk of danger. The stop must be narrowly tailored to the investigation in scope and duration. By comparison, probable cause is needed to arrest or search, beyond a reasonable doubt is the standard for proving guilt in court, and preponderance of the evidence is the civil standard of proof.