Running head: Terry V Ohio

Terry V Ohio George M. Balsamo Jr. G00088376 Grantham University CJ101 Intro Criminal Justice

Running head: Terry V Ohio

The case that we will be examining today will be the Terry V Ohio case and how it had an impact on law enforcement officials across the United States. First we all have to understand what happened in this case. I am going to reference the slide that we had from our class studies.

A Cleveland, Ohio detective observed two subjects he believe, due to their actions, were casing a local business for a robbery so he stopped them to investigate. When the subjects were illusive in his attempt to investigate he became concerned they might be armed and conducted a pat down of the outside of their clothing for the sole purpose of feeling for weapons that might be concealed upon their persons. He felt what he believed to be firearms under the clothing of two of two suspects (Terry and Chilton) and seized the weapons in the interest of officer safety. The suspects was subsequently arrested and charged with the weapons in the trial, the defense moved the weapons be not allowed as evidence because they alleged the pat down was illegal. The courts allowed the warrantless pat down because the officer could provide "specific and articulable facts as to why they believed the pat down and ultimate warrantless seizure of evidence was necessary due to concerns the weapons could be used against the officers (officer safety). This decision is commonly referred to a Stop and Frisk or Terry Stop.

Running head: Terry V Ohio

This is where the story of the Terry stop began. This had a slight impact on how the law enforcement officer could handle certain situations. The benefits of this case would be it allows an officer to stop and search a subject without probable cause. This was declared as reasonable suspicion. The officer would have to believe they have committed, or about to commit a crime. This cannot be just a Hunch though; the officer would have to have supporting facts in order to do an outside frisk of the subject.

A person may not be arrested based strictly on reasonable suspicion. The arrest has to be made based on probable cause. However, if probable cause develops during a stop and frisk (Terry stop), the officer may arrest the suspect. In my personal opinion this had a good impact on law enforcement. I know others may disagree and say that this abuses the rights of the people. People just have to understand in order to keep everyone safe we have to sacrifice certain things. I know if I was to be stopped and searched under reasonable suspicion I would allow the officers to do their job. I wouldnt take offence, because I know they were just doing their jobs.