What does reasonable suspicion refer to?

Reasonable suspicion refers to the legal standard that allows law enforcement officers to briefly detain an individual for investigative purposes when they articulate specific facts and circumstances that would lead a reasonable officer to suspect that the individual is involved in criminal activity. This standard is not as high as "probable cause," which requires more substantial evidence and is necessary for obtaining warrants or making arrests.

Having articulable facts means that an officer must be able to explain the reasons for their suspicion in a clear and logical manner rather than relying on intuition or a hunch. This helps ensure that officers are acting based on objective criteria rather than subjective feelings, aligning with constitutional protections against arbitrary stops and searches. Reasonable suspicion is thus a critical concept that balances the need for law enforcement to investigate potential crimes while protecting individual rights.