What tier involves Terry Stops in the contact hierarchy?

Terry Stops are classified as a Tier II encounter in the contact hierarchy. This tier involves temporary, brief stops of individuals based on reasonable suspicion that they may be involved in criminal activity. The concept originates from the landmark Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio, which established that law enforcement officers can stop and briefly detain a person if they have reasonable suspicion that the person is engaged in criminal conduct.

In a Tier II situation, while an officer does not need probable cause to conduct a stop, they must be able to articulate specific facts or circumstances that lead to the suspicion of criminal involvement. This distinguishes Tier II from Tier I interactions, which are based on consensual encounters where a person is free to leave, and from the more intrusive actions of Tier III, which involves probable cause and the necessity of a search or arrest. Understanding this tier is critical for officers to apply the correct legal standards and ensure that they respect citizens' rights while performing their duties.