What does reasonable suspicion involve?

Reasonable suspicion involves specific facts or circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe that a crime may be occurring or is about to occur. This standard is more than just a vague intuition or a general feeling; it requires concrete observations or evidence that can be articulated. For example, if an officer observes behavior consistent with drug dealing or sees someone acting suspiciously in a high-crime area, those observations, when considered together, can generate reasonable suspicion.

This concept is important in law enforcement because it allows officers to engage in investigative stops or further inquiry without having full probable cause for an arrest. The expectations set by the law ensure that there is a level of objective suspicion that undergirds the actions of law enforcement, protecting individual rights while allowing police to perform their duties effectively.

In contrast, a hunch or gut feeling lacks the necessary basis of observable facts and does not meet the threshold for reasonable suspicion. Similarly, general beliefs or information from anonymous sources do not provide the concrete basis that is essential for establishing reasonable suspicion.