a reasonable belief, known personally or through reliable sources, that a specific person has committed a crime
Probable Cause
a court order issued by a judge or magistrate, giving police the power to search a person or to enter a building to search and seize items related to a crime
Search Warrant
a Latin term, meaning "in good faith"; characterized by good faith and lack of fraud or deceit
Bona Fide
to "pat down" or search the outer clothing of someone whom the police believe is acting suspiciously
Stop and Frisk
a legal rule that generally prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence against the defendant at trial: generally applies to violations of a defendant's Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments rights
Exclusionary Rule
evidence that justifies on officer in stopping and questioning an individual believed to be involved in criminal activity, based on less evidence than probable cause but more than a mere hunch
Reasonable Suspicion
to take a person suspected of a crime into custody
a written statement of facts sworn to or made under oath before someone authorized to administer an oath
Affidavit
a court-ordered document authorizing the police to arrest an individual on a specific change
Arrest Warrant
the use of race as a factor in identifying people who may break or whom may have broken a law
Racial Profiling
to question a witness or suspected criminal
interrogate
to confirm information
Corroborate
rights that a person taken into custody must be informed of by police or other officials before questioning begins
Miranda Warning
questioning by law enforcement officers after a person has been taken into custody or otherwise deprived of his or her freedom of movement
Custodial Interrogation
using commonly notions of what a typical drug couriers look and act like in order to be able to question a person without establishing individual suspicion
Drug Courier Profile
any items that are illegal to possess
Contraband
Self-incrimination