What does reasonable suspicion refer to?

Reasonable suspicion refers to a legal standard used in the field of law enforcement that entails a belief that a crime may have occurred, is occurring, or will occur, based on specific and articulable facts. This standard is lower than probable cause, which is needed for obtaining a warrant or making arrests.

When an officer has reasonable suspicion, they are justified in stopping an individual to ask questions or to perform a limited search, as there is a reasonable basis for their concerns, grounded in observable behavior or other specific facts. This legal concept is essential for the protection of both law enforcement officers and the public, ensuring that stops and searches are conducted based on objective criteria rather than mere intuition or vague feelings.

The other options reflect misunderstandings of the term. For instance, a belief alone without specific facts is not sufficient for reasonable suspicion, as it must be grounded in observable evidence. Similarly, feelings of uncertainty do not provide the required basis for legal action. A proven fact of a crime corresponds to the standard of probable cause rather than reasonable suspicion, which involves suspicion based on evidence that is credible but not necessarily conclusive.