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

Reasonable suspicion is based on what kind of evidence?

1. Hearsay

2. Specific and articulable facts

3. General assumptions

4. Witness testimony

The correct answer is: Specific and articulable facts

Reasonable suspicion is a legal standard used in law enforcement to justify stops and detentions, which is less than probable cause but more than a mere hunch. It requires law enforcement officers to have specific and articulable facts that would lead them to reasonably suspect that a person is engaged in criminal activity. This means that the suspicions must be based on observations, information, and circumstances that can be clearly expressed and defended, rather than vague or generalized assumptions. Specific and articulable facts can include a variety of evidence, such as behaviors exhibited by a suspect, knowledge of past criminal activity, or contextual factors that raise suspicion. These factual bases serve to provide a clearer justification for the officer's actions, ensuring that stops are not arbitrary and help protect individuals' rights. In contrast, hearsay is often unreliable and does not form a solid basis for reasonable suspicion, while general assumptions lack the necessary specificity and connection to observable actions or facts. Witness testimony could contribute to the body of evidence but must be specific and reliable to support reasonable suspicion, rather than solely relied upon in a vague or ambiguous manner.