Question 1

A voluntary encounter between police and citizen is defined as a(n) _________________.

Accepted Answer

A consensual encounter is a voluntary encounter between police and a citizen where the citizen is free to leave at any time and is not being detained or forced to comply with police requests. The officer may ask the citizen questions and engage in conversation, but the citizen is not obligated to answer or provide identification unless they are suspected of committing a crime.

Question 2

A _____________ is a seizure of an individual that is strictly limited in time, duration, scope, and purpose.

Accepted Answer

A detention is a seizure of an individual by law enforcement or another authority that is limited in time, duration, scope, and purpose, typically for the purpose of conducting a brief investigation.

Question 3

_______________ was a case in which the United States Supreme Court approved brief "stop-and-frisk" seizures to search for weapons.

Accepted Answer

The case in which the United States Supreme Court approved brief "stop-and-frisk" seizures to search for weapons is Terry v. Ohio. In this case, the court held that police officers have the authority to conduct a limited search for weapons under certain conditions, known as a Terry stop or Terry frisk, without violating the Fourth Amendment's prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Question 4

"Stop-and-frisk" searches are based upon a standard of _______________.

Accepted Answer

Stop-and-frisk searches are based on reasonable suspicion, which means that an officer must have a justifiable suspicion that the person is involved in criminal activity or is armed and dangerous before stopping and frisking them. This standard is lower than probable cause, which is required for an arrest. Profiling and the identification of dangerous individuals may be factors in establishing reasonable suspicion, but they are not the sole basis for stop-and-frisk searches.

Question 5

A(n) _______________ is a type of detention based upon a standard of probable cause.

Accepted Answer

An arrest is a type of detention that requires probable cause, meaning law enforcement has sufficient reason to believe the person has committed a crime.

Question 6

Reasonable suspicion can be based upon _______________.

Accepted Answer

Reasonable suspicion must be based on specific and articulable facts, which can come from reliable sources such as witnesses or informants who have a history of reliability. Uncorroborated anonymous tips may not be enough to create reasonable suspicion unless they contain sufficient detail or are corroborated by other evidence. Racial profiling is not a valid basis for reasonable suspicion as it relies on stereotypes rather than specific facts.

Question 7

The ability to stop a vehicle based upon a standard of reasonable suspicion stems from __________.

Accepted Answer

The ability to stop a vehicle based upon a standard of reasonable suspicion comes from the landmark Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio. This case established the principle that police officers can stop and briefly detain a person if they have reasonable suspicion that the person has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime. This principle applies not only to individuals on foot but also to individuals in vehicles.

Question 8

The duration of a stop must be reasonably related to the _______________.

Accepted Answer

The principle of reasonable suspicion permits a brief, investigatory stop if the officer has a reasonable suspicion, based on specific and articulable facts, that the person is involved in criminal activity. The stop must be limited in scope and duration to confirm or dispel the officer's suspicion. Therefore, the duration of a stop must be reasonably related to the time it takes to confirm or dispel the officer's suspicion. The location of the search, attitude of the offender, or race of the offender are not relevant factors in determining the duration of a stop.

Question 9

The Court has shown that an accepted time for a duration of detention is ____________.

Accepted Answer

The Court has not set a specific time limit for the duration of detention during a stop. Instead, it has emphasized that the reasonableness of a detention depends on the totality of the circumstances surrounding the stop, including the nature of the offense, the level of suspicion, and the diligence of the investigation. Therefore, the best choice is D.

Question 10

If an officer observes an individual who he or she reasonably suspects to be dangerous, and that officer stops the individual to search for weapons, a(n) ________________ has taken place.

Accepted Answer

The scenario mentioned describes a Terry stop, which is a brief detention of a person by police based on reasonable suspicion of involvement in criminal activity. During a Terry stop, a limited search for weapons can be conducted for officer safety reasons.

Question 11

If an officer asks an individual a question and the individual is free to leave, a(n) _____________ has taken place.

Accepted Answer

In a consensual encounter, an officer approaches an individual and asks questions without any show of authority or restraint. The individual is free to leave at any time and is not being detained.

Question 12

The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed ________________ under Terry v. Ohio.

Accepted Answer

Terry v. Ohio established that "stop-and-frisk" searches for weapons are permissible under certain circumstances, and its principles have been extended to allow for detentions of motorists and police roadblocks under specific conditions, thus making all the options correct in the context of what the Supreme Court has allowed.

Question 13

The ________________ of an individual does not fulfill the necessities of reasonable suspicion in order to perform a "stop-and-frisk" search.

Accepted Answer

The race of an individual, an uncorroborated anonymous tip, and a mere hunch do not individually or collectively fulfill the legal requirements for reasonable suspicion necessary to conduct a "stop-and-frisk" search. Reasonable suspicion must be based on specific and articulable facts.

Question 14

An officer can detain _____________ under the doctrines of Terry v. Ohio.

Accepted Answer

Under Terry v. Ohio, an officer can detain luggage if there is reasonable suspicion that it contains contraband or evidence of a crime.

Question 15

A consensual encounter is a seizure.

Accepted Answer

A consensual encounter is not considered a seizure under the Fourth Amendment because it involves voluntary communication between a law enforcement officer and an individual, without any coercion or detention.

Question 16

A police-citizen encounter is consensual if the citizen believes he or she is free to leave.

Accepted Answer

A police-citizen encounter is considered consensual if the individual believes they are free to leave and not under any obligation to comply with the officer's request. This is commonly known as the "free to leave" test, and it is used to determine whether a detention has occurred, requiring probable cause or reasonable suspicion.

Question 17

A detention is not a seizure under the Fourth Amendment.

Accepted Answer

A detention is considered a form of seizure under the Fourth Amendment, as it involves a temporary and limited interference with an individual's freedom of movement by law enforcement or government agents, based on reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.

Question 18

Terry v. Ohio led to the practice of "stop-and-frisk" seizures.

Accepted Answer

Terry v. Ohio established the legality of "stop-and-frisk" seizures, which allow police officers to stop and frisk individuals if they have reasonable suspicion that the person is involved in criminal activity.

Question 19

Police officers can perform Terry stops on any individual for any reason at any time.

Accepted Answer

Police officers can only perform a Terry stop if they have reasonable suspicion that the person has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime. This is based on the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Question 20

Terry stops allow officers to stop an individual and conduct a search for any item.

Accepted Answer

Terry stops allow officers to stop an individual and conduct a search only if the officer has reasonable suspicion that the individual has committed or is about to commit a crime, and the search is limited to ensuring officer safety and preventing the destruction of evidence.

Quiz 4: Police Authority to Detain