What standard justifies an investigatory detention (temporary seizure)?

• A. Reasonable suspicion
• B. Probable cause
• C. Admissible evidence
• D. Filed warrant

Answer: (A)

Investigatory detention is allowed when an officer has reasonable suspicion that the person is involved in criminal activity. This standard sits between a mere hunch and probable cause, and must be based on specific, articulable facts and rational inferences from them. Examples include observed behavior that is unusual for the setting, the time and place, matching a suspect’s description, attempts to flee, or other context clues that give rise to a reasonable belief that something unlawful may be afoot. Because reasonable suspicion is objective and articulable, the officer must be able to explain why the stop was warranted. The detention is intended to be brief and its scope limited to allowing investigation. If further evidence develops and it rises to probable cause, more intrusive actions like arrest or a search may follow; if not, the person should be released. The other options don’t authorize a temporary seizure: probable cause is the higher standard needed for arrest or a search, admissible evidence is a result, and a filed warrant is something obtained when probable cause exists, not the basis for a short stop.