Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) BA State Certification Practice Exam

A terry stop is permitted on which part of the clothing?

1. Inside

2. Outside

3. Underneath

4. On the back

The correct answer is: Outside

A Terry stop, also known as a stop and frisk, is a limited search that law enforcement officers can conduct when they have reasonable suspicion that a person is involved in criminal activity and may be armed. During this brief encounter, officers are permitted to pat down the outside of a person’s clothing to determine if they are carrying any weapons. The key principle here is that the search must be conducted over the clothing—this is intended to ensure the individual’s rights are respected while allowing officers to ensure their safety. The focus on the outside of clothing is crucial for protecting the rights of individuals during a stop. Conducting a search on the inside or underneath the clothing would require far greater justification, such as probable cause, and could be viewed as an invasion of privacy. Similarly, touching someone on the back or any other superficial part without a valid basis would not meet the criteria established by the Supreme Court in the landmark case Terry v. Ohio. This case set the precedence that officers can only perform a limited search for weapons that is confined to outer clothing.