What is the ruling in Terry v. Ohio concerning police stops?

The ruling in Terry v. Ohio established that law enforcement officers are permitted to stop and briefly detain an individual if they possess reasonable suspicion that the person is involved in criminal activity. This ruling is pivotal because it balances the need for effective law enforcement with the protection of individual rights under the Fourth Amendment.

In this case, the Court recognized that while probable cause is necessary for an arrest, a lower standard of reasonable suspicion is sufficient for a brief investigatory stop, allowing officers to act on their training and experience. Reasonable suspicion does not require the certainty associated with probable cause; instead, it is based on specific and articulable facts that an officer observes, which leads them to suspect that a person is engaged in criminal conduct.

This ruling allows for proactive policing, permitting officers to investigate potential criminal activity while still safeguarding citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures. It set a precedent for future cases involving stops and frisks, continuing to guide law enforcement practices today.