What is a necessary condition for conducting a "stop and frisk" according to the Terrry standard?

A necessary condition for conducting a "stop and frisk" according to the Terry standard is reasonable suspicion. This legal standard allows law enforcement officers to stop a person and conduct a limited search for weapons if they have specific and articulable facts suggesting that the individual may be armed and involved in criminal activity. The concept of reasonable suspicion is less demanding than probable cause and is based on the officer's observations and situational judgment.

The Terry v. Ohio decision established that reasonable suspicion must be based on the totality of circumstances, allowing officers to act in situations where immediate action is essential for officer safety and public security. Unlike full consent, signed affidavits, or witness approval, reasonable suspicion is a fundamental legal threshold that strikes a balance between individual rights and the need for law enforcement to ensure safety in their communities.