Reasonable Suspicion

Reasonable suspicion is a legal standard used by law enforcement to justify stopping and briefly detaining an individual based on specific facts or circumstances. It means that an officer has a legitimate belief, based on observed behavior or information, that a crime may be happening or about to occur. Unlike probable cause, which requires more substantial evidence for an arrest, reasonable suspicion allows officers to investigate further without needing to prove guilt at that moment. Essentially, it strikes a balance between individual rights and public safety.