A Protective Search is performed in which situation?

A Protective Search is performed in which situation?

• A. During an arrest.
• B. With probable cause for search.
• C. Non-arrest, temporary detainment with articulable suspicion.
• D. Only with consent.

Answer: (C)

A protective search is a quick, limited frisk of a person’s outer clothing conducted during a lawful, temporary stop when the officer has articulable suspicion that the person may be armed. The goal is officer safety while the person is not under arrest, so the standard is reasonable suspicion rather than probable cause, and the search is narrowly tailored to feel for weapons. This fits a non-arrest, temporary detainment with articulable suspicion. It isn’t the same as a search incident to arrest, which requires probable cause, and it isn’t based solely on consent.

A protective search is a quick, limited frisk of a person’s outer clothing conducted during a lawful, temporary stop when the officer has articulable suspicion that the person may be armed. The goal is officer safety while the person is not under arrest, so the standard is reasonable suspicion rather than probable cause, and the search is narrowly tailored to feel for weapons. This fits a non-arrest, temporary detainment with articulable suspicion. It isn’t the same as a search incident to arrest, which requires probable cause, and it isn’t based solely on consent.