Terry stops are used to...

• A. Detain individuals for a fixed period regardless of suspicion.
• B. Arrest individuals without probable cause.
• C. Stop and seize suspected individuals to investigate based on reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.
• D. Conduct a full search of the person for weapons without any suspicion.

Answer: (C)

Terry stops are a limited stop-and-frisk scenario: police may briefly detain someone and, if necessary for safety, perform a quick pat-down to look for weapons when there’s reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. This is not an arrest, and it’s not a full search of the person. The detention must be brief and based on specific facts that, in the totality of circumstances, amount to reasonable suspicion—not mere curiosity or a hunch. If the officer has reasonable suspicion, a limited frisk for weapons is allowed, but a broader search requires separate justification. So the best description is stopping and briefly detaining someone to investigate based on reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, with a possible limited frisk for weapons.