🇺🇸 United States
📜 Civil Law
📅 1968
⭐ Landmark Case
Supreme Court
Terry v. Ohio
🏛 U.S. Supreme Court
Case Details
📋 Case Summary
Held that police may briefly detain and pat-down (frisk) a person based on reasonable suspicion that the person has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime.
⚖️ Final Judgment / Ruling
8-1 ruling: police may stop and frisk individuals based on reasonable suspicion, a lower standard than probable cause.
💡 Why This Case Matters
Created the stop and frisk legal standard used by police throughout the US, allowing limited searches without probable cause.