Can an officer always conduct a frisk after making a lawful stop?

A frisk, also known as a protective pat-down, is not automatically conducted after every lawful stop. While officers may perform a frisk if they have reasonable suspicion that the person they have stopped is armed and dangerous, the decision to conduct a frisk is contingent upon the circumstances surrounding the stop.

The primary purpose of a frisk is to ensure officer safety. If the officer does not have specific, articulable facts that suggest a threat to their safety or that of others, they are not justified in conducting a frisk. This distinction emphasizes the need for the officer to evaluate the situation carefully before proceeding with a search of the individual.

In contrast, other options may imply a blanket policy or misunderstanding of the legal standards governing stops and frisks, which are contingent upon the presence of reasonable suspicion concerning potential weapons or danger. Thus, the requirement for a justified basis for conducting a frisk establishes why it is incorrect to assume that a frisk is warranted following every lawful stop.