What must an officer have to conduct a frisk during a stop?

To conduct a frisk during a stop, an officer must have reasonable suspicion. This legal standard allows the officer to believe that a person may be armed and dangerous, based on specific and articulable facts. Reasonable suspicion is a lower threshold than probable cause, which is required to make an arrest or conduct a more thorough search.

In the context of a stop, the officer must observe behavior or circumstances that lead them to suspect that the individual may pose a threat to themselves or others. The frisk is intended to ensure officer safety by allowing them to pat down the outer clothing of the person for weapons without needing to establish the higher standard of probable cause. This distinction is crucial in understanding the balance between individual rights and the need for law enforcement to protect themselves and the public during encounters.