Stops and Frisks
From Criminal Defense Wiki
Background
Generally police have the right to make limited contact with citizens that is short of arrest. The standard for this contact varies from jurisidiction to jurisdiction.
United States
In Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968) the United States Supreme Court stated that the Fourth Amendment prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures did not restrict a police officer's right to make a limited investigatory stop even though the officer did not have probable cause necessary to effect and arrest.
State Constitutions
Some states provide for additional protections against unwarrante police intrusion. For instance, in New York, the Supreme Court has concluded that the State Constitution provides heightened scrutiny for stops and frisks.
