Question 1

Officers may frisk a suspect for weapons if they have reasonable suspicion that the person is:

Accepted Answer

Officers are permitted to frisk a suspect for weapons if they have a reasonable suspicion that the person is armed and dangerous. This is to ensure the safety of the officer and others nearby.

Question 2

The purpose of a frisk is:

Accepted Answer

A frisk is primarily conducted for officer protection, to ensure that the person being frisked does not have any weapons that could harm the officer.

Question 3

Which case established that the practice of "stop and frisk" based on reasonable suspicion was valid?

Accepted Answer

Terry v. Ohio established that the police can stop and frisk individuals without arresting them if they have reasonable suspicion that the person is armed and involved in criminal activity. This decision recognized the need for law enforcement officers to protect themselves and others while investigating suspicious behavior.

Question 4

Which case established that reasonable suspicion based on a "wanted poster" is sufficient for a valid stop?

Accepted Answer

United States v. Hensley established that police can stop a suspect if they have a reasonable suspicion based on a "wanted poster" or a bulletin, making such a stop valid under the Fourth Amendment.

Question 5

Which of the following should not be considered when determining the length of an investigatory stop?

Accepted Answer

The length of an investigatory stop should be determined based on the purpose of the stop, the reasonableness of the time used for the investigation, and the reasonableness of the means of investigation. The behavior of the suspect, while it may affect how the stop is conducted, should not dictate the length of the stop. The focus should be on the investigation's objectives and ensuring the methods and duration are reasonable and appropriate for achieving those objectives.

Question 6

In ________, the Supreme Court ruled that presence in a high-crime area, combined with unprovoked flight upon observing police officers, gives officers sufficient grounds to investigate further to determine if criminal activity is about to take place.

Accepted Answer

Illinois v. Wardlow established that an individual's presence in a high-crime area, combined with unprovoked flight upon seeing police, provides enough reason for police to conduct a stop and investigate for possible criminal activity.

Question 7

The extent of a frisk is limited to a pat-down for ________.

Accepted Answer

A frisk, as defined in Terry v. Ohio, is limited to a pat-down of a person's outer clothing, primarily for the purpose of finding weapons that might endanger the officer or others nearby. It is not meant for uncovering drugs, incriminating evidence, or identification.

Question 8

What starts as a frisk may quickly turn into an arrest if ________ develops.

Accepted Answer

Probable cause is the legal standard that allows law enforcement to make an arrest, conduct a personal or property search, or obtain a warrant. It means there is a reasonable basis to believe that a crime may have been committed or that evidence of a crime can be found.

Question 9

What is the proper standard for evaluating the factors used in an officer's decision to make an investigatory stop?

Accepted Answer

The proper standard for evaluating the factors used in an officer's decision to make an investigatory stop is to consider the totality of the circumstances. This approach allows for a comprehensive assessment of all relevant factors, rather than isolating or prioritizing certain elements over others.

Question 10

Police officers may order passengers out of a lawfully stopped vehicle and pat them down if there is ________ they may be armed and dangerous.

Accepted Answer

Officers may order passengers out of a vehicle and conduct a pat-down if there is reasonable suspicion that they may be armed and dangerous. This standard ensures that the officers have specific and articulable facts to justify their actions, rather than acting on a mere hunch or undefined suspicion.

Question 11

The ________ Amendment allows police officers, pursuant to a stop and frisk, to require a person to provide his or her name.

Accepted Answer

The Fourth Amendment is relevant in the context of police stops and frisks, as it protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. While it does not explicitly mention the requirement to provide a name, it is the legal basis for stop and frisk procedures where identifying oneself may be deemed reasonable.

Question 12

Which of the following cases established that there is no rigid time limit for the length of an investigatory stop?

Accepted Answer

United States v. Sharpe established that there is no rigid time limit for the length of an investigatory stop, emphasizing that the legality of the stop depends on whether the police acted diligently under the circumstances.

Question 13

The ___________ provides for admissibility of evidence when the connection between unconstitutional police conduct and discovered evidence is sufficiently remote or has been interrupted by some intervening circumstance.

Accepted Answer

The Attenuation doctrine allows for the admissibility of evidence if the connection between the unconstitutional police conduct and the discovery of the evidence is sufficiently distant or interrupted by an intervening circumstance, making the evidence no longer considered "fruit of the poisonous tree."

Question 14

A stop and frisk based on mere suspicion is valid.

Accepted Answer

A stop and frisk requires reasonable suspicion that a person is involved in criminal activity and that they may be armed and dangerous, mere suspicion is not sufficient.

Question 15

The extent of a frisk is strictly limited to a pat-down for weapons.

Accepted Answer

A frisk, as defined in the context of a Terry stop (from Terry v. Ohio, 1968), is strictly limited to a pat-down of a person's outer clothing to search for weapons, ensuring the safety of the officer and others nearby.

Question 16

A stop and frisk may not be based on information provided by another individual.

Accepted Answer

A stop and frisk can be based on information provided by another individual, such as a tip from an informant, as long as the police have reasonable suspicion to believe that the person has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime.

Question 17

Reasonable suspicion is a more demanding standard than probable cause.

Accepted Answer

Reasonable suspicion is a lower standard than probable cause, requiring less evidence to justify law enforcement actions like stops and brief detentions.

Question 18

A frisk that goes beyond that allowed in Terry is invalid.

Accepted Answer

A frisk that exceeds the scope of what is permitted under Terry v. Ohio, which allows for a pat-down for weapons if the officer has a reasonable suspicion that the person is armed and dangerous, is considered invalid as it violates the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Question 19

A criminal profile alone does not constitute reasonable suspicion for a valid stop.

Accepted Answer

A criminal profile alone is too vague and lacks the specific, articulable facts necessary to establish reasonable suspicion for a valid stop. Reasonable suspicion must be based on specific and articulable facts, taken together with rational inferences from those facts, that the individual being stopped is, or is about to be, engaged in criminal activity.

Question 20

An anonymous tip that a person is carrying a gun is sufficient to justify a police officer's stop and frisk of that person.

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Terry v. Ohio (1968), police officers must have reasonable suspicion that a crime is being, has been, or is about to be committed to justify a stop and frisk. An anonymous tip alone, without additional corroboration or specific details that indicate criminal activity, does not meet the standard of reasonable suspicion.

Quiz 3: Stop and Frisk