What is a requirement for a police officer to conduct an investigatory stop?

The requirement for a police officer to conduct an investigatory stop is grounded in the concept of reasonable suspicion. This means that the officer must have specific and articulable facts that lead them to believe that a crime may have been, is being, or will be committed. Reasonable suspicion is a lower standard than probable cause, which is needed for an arrest or a search warrant. The emphasis on facts signifies that an officer cannot merely rely on a hunch; instead, there must be observable behaviors or circumstances that justify the stop.

In this context, while clear evidence of a crime might result in a different level of authority, it is not the threshold required for an investigatory stop, which hinges on reasonable suspicion. Similarly, while issues of profiling are relevant to discussions about fair policing practices, they are not a formal requirement for justifying an investigatory stop. Lastly, while informing suspects of their rights is a critical component of policing, it applies once a suspect is in custody, not at the point of an investigatory stop. Therefore, the requirement of reasonable suspicion based on facts is the key legal standard that allows an officer to conduct this type of temporary detention.