What is the primary purpose of a Terry stop?

The primary purpose of a Terry stop is to allow law enforcement officers to detain an individual temporarily based on reasonable suspicion that the person may be involved in criminal activity. This concept originates from the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio, which established that police officers could stop and briefly detain a person for investigative purposes if they have specific and articulable facts that justify the suspicion.

This type of stop does not require the same level of evidence as an arrest, which demands probable cause. Instead, it is broader in scope, enabling officers to intervene when they believe a crime might be occurring or is about to occur, thereby preventing potential harm or the continuation of criminal activity.

While confirming a suspect's identity, searching belongings, or enforcing traffic laws can happen as a result of a Terry stop, those actions are secondary to the primary purpose of ensuring public safety through a brief investigative detention based on reasonable suspicion. Thus, the main focus is on the need for a temporary interruption of the person’s freedom for questioning and further investigation without the immediacy of an arrest.