Is it permissible to conduct a Terry stop?

The ability to conduct a Terry stop is rooted in the Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures. A Terry stop, established by the Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio, permits law enforcement officers to stop and briefly detain a person based on reasonable suspicion that they are involved in criminal activity.

The key aspect of conducting a Terry stop is that it must occur in a public place where the individual has no reasonable expectation of privacy. The stop itself should be limited in duration and scope. The officer can question the individual and, if there is additional reasonable suspicion or specific circumstances—such as the belief that the individual may be armed—they can conduct a limited pat-down for weapons.

The notion of stopping someone “only to a reasonable distance in a public place” accurately reflects the legal boundaries of a Terry stop. This implies that the officer's actions must be justifiable based on situational awareness and that any detention must be brief and not significantly infringe upon the individual's freedom of movement. Hence, this approach balances the need for law enforcement to ensure public safety while respecting individuals' rights.