Which case is commonly cited as establishing the stop-and-frisk doctrine in police practice?

• A. Illinois v. Lafayette
• B. Michigan v. Long
• C. Tennessee v. Garner
• D. Terry v. Ohio

Answer: (D)

Stop-and-frisk hinges on the idea that an officer may briefly stop a person and conduct a quick pat-down for weapons when there is reasonable suspicion that the person is armed and involved in criminal activity. This principle was established by Terry v. Ohio, which allows a limited intrusion to protect officer safety without needing probable cause for an arrest. The frisk is strictly for weapons; if something other than a weapon is felt, the officer may seize it only under the appropriate legal standards. This ruling set the standard for how such stops and frisk searches are carried out in practice.

The other cases deal with different police practices or contexts, such as searches related to vehicle stops or use of force, rather than establishing the stop-and-frisk framework from Terry v. Ohio.