What does Terry v. Ohio permit the police to do?

Terry v. Ohio is a landmark Supreme Court case that established the legal principle of "stop and frisk." The ruling allows police officers to stop a person for questioning when they have reasonable suspicion that the individual is involved in criminal activity. Additionally, if the officer has a reasonable belief that the person may be armed and poses a danger to the officer or others, they are permitted to conduct a limited frisk of the individual's outer clothing to check for weapons. This principle is crucial in law enforcement as it balances the need for public safety with individual rights.

Understanding this framework clarifies the police's authority during such encounters – they are not required to have probable cause, only reasonable suspicion, making it a more flexible standard in dynamic and potentially dangerous situations. The other options do not accurately reflect the legal boundaries set by this case, as warrantless arrests, searches without probable cause, and the use of deadly force involve different legal justifications and standards that are not sanctioned by this ruling.