Pretext and Terry stops are types of stops within which broader category?

• A. Investigative Stops
• B. Arrests
• C. Consensual Encounters
• D. Civil Forfeiture

Answer: (A)

Investigative stops are temporary detentions used to probe suspected criminal activity. A Terry stop is a classic example: an officer may briefly detain someone and, if justified by reasonable suspicion, perform a quick frisk for safety. A pretext stop is a stop aimed at investigating other crimes but conducted under the guise of a lawful stop (often a traffic stop) that is itself justified by a legitimate reason, such as a traffic violation. In both cases the goal is to investigate, not to make an arrest, which would require probable cause. They’re different from consensual encounters, where there is no detention, and from civil forfeiture, which involves seizing property rather than detaining a person for investigation.