What does the Terry v. Ohio case allow for in terms of searches?

The Terry v. Ohio case allows for lesser searches based on reasonable suspicion. This landmark Supreme Court decision established that law enforcement officers are permitted to stop and briefly detain a person based on reasonable suspicion that they may be involved in criminal activity. During this brief stop, officers can conduct a limited pat-down or frisk of the person’s outer clothing if they believe the individual may be armed and dangerous. This is known as a "stop and frisk."

The reasoning behind this ruling is rooted in the need for police officers to ensure their safety and the safety of others while conducting community policing tasks. Thus, a lower burden of proof, namely reasonable suspicion, is sufficient to justify the limited search, as opposed to the higher standard of probable cause needed for a full search or arrest. This case is significant in balancing the need for law enforcement to act preventively while also respecting individual rights.