What characterizes an investigatory stop?

An investigatory stop is characterized as a temporary seizure to investigate. This legal standard allows law enforcement officers to stop an individual if they have a reasonable suspicion that the person is involved in criminal activity. This is less than the probable cause required for an arrest but must be based on specific and articulable facts that an officer can explain.

During this brief stop, officers can ask questions and determine whether further investigation is necessary. The purpose is to allow police to investigate a situation without needing to develop a full probable cause for an arrest, making it an essential tool in policing.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe an investigatory stop. The use of deadly force is not a characteristic of a temporary seizure for investigation, as such force is strictly regulated and intended only for situations where there is an imminent threat to life or serious injury. An unregulated conversation does not reflect the limitations placed on officers during an investigatory stop, and conducting a stop without any legal basis would violate an individual's Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures.