What is the primary purpose of a frisk during a police stop?

The primary purpose of a frisk during a police stop is to ensure safety by searching for weapons. This action is a brief, limited search of a person's outer clothing, and it is primarily justified when an officer has a reasonable belief that the individual may be armed and pose a danger. The aim is not to gather evidence of a crime or to collect personal information, but rather to protect the officer and others from potential harm during the encounter. This principle was established in the landmark case Terry v. Ohio, which delineated the parameters of a stop-and-frisk as a balance between individual rights and the need for law enforcement to ensure their safety and the safety of the public. While searching for illegal substances can sometimes occur during a frisk, the primary focus remains on identifying weapons.