Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Practice Exam

Which term refers to the justification that must be established to conduct an investigative detention?

1. Mere suspicion

2. Reasonable suspicion

3. Probable cause

4. Articulable evidence

The correct answer is: Reasonable suspicion

The term that refers to the justification necessary to conduct an investigative detention is reasonable suspicion. This concept is pivotal in law enforcement as it serves as the legal standard that allows officers to briefly stop and question an individual based on specific, articulable facts that suggest the person may be involved in criminal activity. Reasonable suspicion is a lower threshold than probable cause, which is required for arrests and obtaining search warrants. While mere suspicion lacks a factual basis and is insufficient for any form of detention or search, reasonable suspicion is based on observable behaviors or facts that would lead a law enforcement officer to believe that a crime may be afoot. This standard ensures that officers are not acting solely on gut feelings but rather on specific, reasonable inferences derived from their training and experience. Articulable evidence, though it may sound similar, is not a distinct standard of justification in itself but rather refers to the ability to clearly explain the reasons and observations that led to the reasonable suspicion. Thus, reasonable suspicion is the correct term that encapsulates the legal necessity for conducting an investigative detention.