Terry v. Ohio

Terry v. Ohio is a landmark 1968 Supreme Court case that established the legality of "stop and frisk." It involved a police officer who, based on his experience, suspected two men of planning a robbery. He stopped them and conducted a quick search for weapons without a warrant. The Court ruled that police can stop and briefly detain individuals if they have reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, even without probable cause. This case balanced public safety with individual rights, allowing limited searches when officers genuinely believe a person may be armed and dangerous.