Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) Practice Exam

What is required for a Terry Stop to be conducted?

1. Probable cause

2. Reasonable suspicion

3. General inquiry

4. Witness testimony

The correct answer is: Reasonable suspicion

A Terry Stop, which stems from the landmark Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio, involves a brief detention of a person by law enforcement based on reasonable suspicion rather than probable cause. Reasonable suspicion is a lower standard than probable cause and allows officers to stop and briefly question a person if they have specific and articulable facts that lead them to believe that the individual is involved in criminal activity. This standard is crucial for balancing the need for public safety with individual rights. The concept of reasonable suspicion is rooted in the idea that police should be able to act on instinct and experience when they observe suspicious behavior, allowing them to investigate further without having enough evidence to justify an arrest. This distinction is why reasonable suspicion is necessary for a Terry Stop, whereas probable cause, which is required for arrests and search warrants, demands a higher level of certainty about criminal activity. Other options like general inquiry or witness testimony do not provide the legal grounds for conducting a Terry Stop. General inquiry does not imply suspicion of criminal activity, and witness testimony, while potentially useful, does not alone establish the necessary standard for a temporary detention.