Elizabeth Arias

April 7, 2020
Sociology of Policing
Professor Mercogliano
Quiz #2

Stop Question and Frisk is used on a day by day basis by police officers when any

reasonable suspicion or probable cause gives them a reason to stop someone. This individual

must be in the process of committing a crime or is about to. Under these conditions, the officer

can detain the person and or question, as well as frisk, to determine if the person is in

possession of any illegal substances or any weapons. Frisking involves the pat-down of the

outer clothing.

Reasonable suspicion is a justifiable feeling or speculation that is based on specific facts

or circumstances that will legitimize stopping or searching a person. Who in this case is thought

to be involved in criminal? On the other hand, probable cause is evidence that gives a police

officer a reason that a crime will be committed or has been committed. Reasonable suspicion is

kind of a feeling while probable cause has actual evidence.

A police officer is handles everything a peace officer can do as well as a civilian, they are

protected and sworn in under the state law. They are responsible for the city they are posted

at. They patrol, make arrest, issue tickets, and sometimes testify against criminals. They can

also issue warrants. A peace officer is someone who can make arrests on probable cause, an

example of a peace officer can be someone who works from ACS. They can only handout

citations for minor offenses and can hold someone with more serious crimes, until a police

officer shows up. A civilian is a person who is not a member of the police armed force, they can
make an arrest on reasonable suspicion. A civilian can be a crime scene investigator or even

private investigator.