If an officer has ______________ that a person might be engaged in the commission of a crime, the officer is authorized to stop the person, ask questions, and frisk him or her to see if they are dangerous.

Question

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The concept of reasonable suspicion is a legal term that refers to a situation where an officer has specific, articulable facts that, under the totality of circumstances, provide a basis to reasonably suspect that a person is, was, or is about to be engaged in criminal activity. This level of suspicion is less than probable cause but is enough to justify a brief investigative stop, a limited detention, and a pat-down search for weapons if the officer has a reasonable belief that the person might be armed and dangerous. Mens rea and actus reus refer to elements of criminal intent and criminal act, respectively, and are not relevant to this scenario. Habeas corpus is a legal action that requires a person who is detained to be brought before a court or judge to determine the lawfulness of the detention, but it is not applicable to an officer’s decision to make a Terry stop or frisk.

If an Officer Has ______________ That a Person Might Be