Which exception permits a frisk based on reasonable suspicion?

• A. Inventory search
• B. Protective sweep
• C. Frisk
• D. Consent search

Answer: (C)

Stop-and-frisk is the rule that lets an officer briefly stop a person and pat down their outer clothing if there’s reasonable suspicion the person is armed and dangerous. The frisk is a quick, protective measure aimed at discovering weapons, not a full search for evidence. It must be limited in scope and duration, and any discovery of a weapon justifies further actions with proper cause. This depends on the totality of the circumstances—specific facts, behaviors, and context that would lead a reasonable officer to worry about potential harm.

The other options don’t fit this scenario: an inventory search is about cataloging belongings during lawful detention, not about safety; a protective sweep is a broader safety check of adjacent spaces for others who could pose danger, not a targeted pat-down of the person; a consent search relies on voluntary permission, not on reasonable suspicion.