What constitutes "reasonable suspicion"?

Reasonable suspicion is defined as a belief based on specific, articulable facts that suggest a person may be involved in criminal activity. This standard requires law enforcement officers to have a particularized and objective basis for suspecting that a crime is afoot, rather than just a general inclination or vague impression.

For example, if an officer observes someone engaging in behavior that is commonly associated with criminal activities, such as looking into parked cars late at night or exhibiting nervous behavior when approached, these specific facts can combine to create reasonable suspicion. This level of suspicion allows officers to briefly detain individuals for further investigation, as it is justified by concrete observations rather than mere hunches or intuitions.

In contrast, other options involve vague ideas or instincts that lack the requisite factual basis. For instance, simply having a feeling about a person or a general belief about their suspiciousness does not provide the necessary legal backing for action to be taken. Reasonable suspicion must always rely on identifiable facts that can justify a stop or further inquiry into a person’s activities.