During a Terry stop, a frisk is conducted primarily to check for weapons for safety. Which area is the frisk limited to?

During a Terry stop, a frisk is conducted primarily to check for weapons for safety. Which area is the frisk limited to?

• A. Full search of the person
• B. Outer clothing
• C. Shoes only
• D. Hair and scalp

Answer: (B)

The frisk in a Terry stop is a quick, protective pat-down of the exterior of the person’s clothing to check for weapons. It stays on the outer layer and is not a full-body or inside-pocket search. This approach allows the officer to assess immediate safety without intruding more than necessary. If the pat-down touches or reveals a weapon, the officer may act to secure it; otherwise, the search ends with the outer clothing only. Shoes, hair, or digging into pockets or under layers would go beyond what a frisk permits, which is why the area must be limited to the outside of the clothing.

The frisk in a Terry stop is a quick, protective pat-down of the exterior of the person’s clothing to check for weapons. It stays on the outer layer and is not a full-body or inside-pocket search. This approach allows the officer to assess immediate safety without intruding more than necessary. If the pat-down touches or reveals a weapon, the officer may act to secure it; otherwise, the search ends with the outer clothing only. Shoes, hair, or digging into pockets or under layers would go beyond what a frisk permits, which is why the area must be limited to the outside of the clothing.