What does a Terry frisk involve?

A Terry frisk involves a limited pat down of an individual's outer clothing by law enforcement officers to check for concealed weapons. This procedure is justified under the principle of officer safety, allowing officers to ensure they are not in danger from a weapon during an encounter with a suspect. The key component of a Terry frisk is its focus on the potential presence of weapons, not on searching for contraband or illegal substances. During this pat down, the officer must have reasonable suspicion that the individual is armed and poses a threat, but it does not give officers the authority to conduct a full search or inspect belongings in detail. Thus, the method of questioning and the underlying purpose of a Terry frisk are specifically geared towards identifying weapons rather than conducting a more thorough examination of a person or their possessions.