What does the term "reasonable suspicion" refer to in the context of police stops?

In the context of police stops, "reasonable suspicion" refers to a belief based on specific facts that a crime is being committed or will be committed. This standard requires law enforcement officers to have a particularized and objective basis for suspecting that a person is engaged in criminal activity. It is more than a vague hunch or intuition; instead, it is grounded in observable facts or circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to suspect that illicit activity is occurring.

This concept plays a crucial role in the legal framework governing police interactions with the public. It allows officers to conduct brief stops and detain individuals for further investigation if they can articulate specific reasons or observations that justify their suspicions. For instance, if an officer observes someone engaging in behavior that is commonly associated with drug trafficking, such as a handoff between two individuals in a high-crime area, they may have reasonable suspicion to stop and question those individuals.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of what reasonable suspicion entails. For instance, the concept is not merely a general assumption of wrongdoing or a discretionary decision without a factual basis but requires concrete observable facts that inform the officer’s belief. It differs from more stringent legal standards, such as certainty or probable cause, that are necessary for arrest