Police Searches on the Street: Stop and Frisk
Police officers have a limited right to stop people on the street and frisk them.
Law enforcement has a limited right to stop people on the street and frisk them. Learn about how the police can use certain types of evidence as a way to search people out in public.
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"Stop and Frisk"
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Arrest vs. Detention: How to Tell Whether You’ve Been Arrested or Simply Detained
It’s possible for the police to arrest you—intentionally or not—before saying that you’re under arrest. -
When Police May Stop Someone on the Street
How much evidence of criminal activity must the police have before stopping someone on the street? -
The Difference Between a "Search" and a "Frisk"
When does a frisk become a search? -
Limits to Frisks by Police Officers
Even officers who have reason to frisk you can’t search wherever and however they want. -
Police Detentions Based on Anonymous Tips
Info from unknown informants can supply the cops with reasonable suspicion. -
Police Detentions Based on Mistakes of Fact and Mistakes of Law
Even if you did nothing wrong, an officer’s factual or legal mistake might mean the detention is valid.
