What does the "stop and frisk" practice involve?

The "stop and frisk" practice involves stopping an individual based on reasonable suspicion that they may be involved in criminal activity and conducting a limited search, typically a pat-down, to ensure that the person is not carrying any weapons. This practice is grounded in the need for law enforcement officers to ensure their safety and the safety of others while investigating potential criminal behavior.

Reasonable suspicion is a legal standard that requires law enforcement to have specific and articulable facts to warrant a stop. This is distinct from mere speculation or hunches, providing a constitutional basis for the action. The "frisk" portion is aimed at ensuring that no weapons or dangerous items are present, which helps prevent harm to officers and bystanders during the interaction.

The other options do not accurately represent the legal concept or the procedural method involved in "stop and frisk." For example, an arrest based solely on appearance lacks the necessary legal foundation of reasonable suspicion. A detailed search of a person's belongings exceeds the scope of a typical frisk and would require probable cause rather than reasonable suspicion. Patrolling without specific suspicion departs from the legal standards that govern stops and can lead to issues related to arbitrary stops, which are not permissible under the law.