Legal Definitions - Terry stop

A Terry stop is when a police officer briefly detains, questions, and searches a person for a concealed weapon if they have a reasonable suspicion that the person has committed or is about to commit a crime. This can be done without a warrant or probable cause.

For example, if a police officer sees someone acting suspiciously near a store that has just been robbed, they may perform a Terry stop to search for any weapons that could have been used in the crime.

The Supreme Court ruled in Terry v. Ohio that this type of stop and frisk is constitutional as long as the officer has reasonable suspicion. It is also known as an investigatory stop, field stop, or investigatory defense.

Overall, a Terry stop is a way for police officers to quickly investigate potential criminal activity and ensure public safety.