When is an investigative stop generally justified?

An investigative stop, often referred to as a Terry stop, is justified when law enforcement officers have reasonable suspicion that a person is involved in criminal activity. This standard requires specific and articulable facts, rather than merely a hunch or vague suspicion, that criminal activity is underway or about to occur.

Reasonable suspicion is a lower standard than probable cause, allowing officers to briefly detain a person for questioning to ascertain their involvement in a crime. Factors contributing to reasonable suspicion can include an individual's behavior, the context of the situation, and the officer's training and experience.

The other scenarios outlined do not, by themselves, meet the necessary legal threshold: an officer wishing to conduct a pat-down search requires reasonable suspicion to perform that search; a high crime rate in an area alone does not suffice to justify a stop; and while witness reports of suspicious behavior may contribute to reasonable suspicion, they are not automatically sufficient without additional context or corroboration. Therefore, the presence of reasonable suspicion is essential for justifying an investigative stop.