Only purpose for a Terry Frisk?

• A. To ID weapons
• B. To locate drugs
• C. To conduct a full body search
• D. To arrest the person

Answer: (A)

A Terry frisk is a quick, protective pat-down of a person’s outer clothing when an officer has reasonable suspicion that the person is armed and dangerous. Its sole purpose is to identify weapons to ensure the officer’s safety and the safety of others. It is not intended to locate drugs, nor is it a full body search or a tool for making an arrest. If a weapon is felt during the frisk, it may be seized and used to justify further action; if something non-weapon is felt, the frisk ends unless the object is immediately apparent as contraband under the plain-feel rule.