North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) State Practice Exam

In law enforcement, what is a prerequisite for establishing reasonable suspicion?

1. Observation of obvious illegal activity

2. Presence of specific, articulable evidence

3. Common belief of potential crime

4. Witness accounts that are not verified

The correct answer is: Presence of specific, articulable evidence

Establishing reasonable suspicion requires the presence of specific, articulable evidence that supports the belief that a crime may occur or is occurring. This standard is grounded in the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. Law enforcement officers must be able to articulate the facts and circumstances that led to their suspicion, demonstrating that it is not based on a mere hunch or unparticular intuition. Specific and articulable evidence refers to objective facts that can be observed or documented, such as a person's behavior, location, or context of a situation. This allows officers to justify their actions to stop, question, or search individuals under suspicion of criminal activity. The law mandates that these facts must be tied directly to the situation at hand, ensuring that the suspicion is reasonable and not arbitrary. Other options may lack the necessary clarity and legal foundation required for establishing reasonable suspicion. For instance, while the observation of obvious illegal activity could lead to reasonable suspicion, it is not a prerequisite; it must be specific and articulable. Common belief or witness accounts without verification do not meet the standard for reasonable suspicion, as they can be subjective or unreliable. Thus, the correct answer emphasizes the importance of having clear, objective reasoning to support the suspicion.