What is the definition of Articulable Reasonable Suspicion?

• A. A detailed plan to conduct a search
• B. General belief without evidence
• C. A specific set of facts leading to a reasonable belief of criminal activity
• D. A hunch without substantiation

Answer: (C)

Articulable Reasonable Suspicion refers to a standard used in criminal procedure that allows law enforcement officers to justify a stop and frisk based on specific and factual circumstances. It requires more than just a vague suspicion or a gut feeling; there must be concrete facts or circumstances that lead an officer to reasonably believe that a person is involved in criminal activity.

For example, if an officer observes someone engaging in suspicious behavior, such as looking into several parked cars and attempting to open the doors, this could provide a basis for articulable reasonable suspicion. The key is that the officer must be able to articulate the reasons for their suspicion based on objective facts rather than merely relying on intuition or conjecture. This standard is meant to balance the need for police to prevent and investigate crime with the rights of individuals against unreasonable searches and seizures.