What is the definition of 'Reasonable Suspicion'?

The term 'Reasonable Suspicion' is defined as a minimal level of objective justification for an investigative stop. This concept is crucial in law enforcement as it allows officers to stop and briefly detain an individual based on specific and articulable facts, rather than vague hunches or unparticular gut feelings.

For a law enforcement officer to justify an investigative stop using reasonable suspicion, they must rely on observable behaviors, the context of the situation, or specific facts that lead them to suspect that criminal activity may be occurring. This level of suspicion is lower than the threshold of probable cause, which is needed for an arrest, where a higher level of evidence is required.

The other options describe concepts that do not accurately capture the definition of reasonable suspicion. A strong belief that a crime is happening implies a higher certainty, which aligns more with probable cause. Evidence that guarantees an arrest indicates a definitive conclusion that is not part of the reasonable suspicion standard. Lastly, a hunch without supporting facts does not provide the necessary objective justification required for reasonable suspicion, as it must be grounded in specific observations or information.