The term stop and frisk is a technique which is utilized by police officials for the reduction of crime through stopping and searching the individuals they suspect of committing a crime or in possession of illegal weapons or drugs. The law allows the officers to conduct a search only if the officer has a reasonable suspicion that a crime has or is about to take place and the person stopped are armed and dangerous. This policy has been under constant debate that it promotes racial profiling; illegal stops and invades the privacy rights of individuals. This paper will discuss some of the landmark stop and frisks cases. The reasons for and against stop and frisk, then how it affects society.
As Americans, we enjoy freedoms that many around the world do not. These freedoms make us the envy, and the enemy, of millions. The foundation for these freedoms was laid long ago by our founding fathers. After the United States won its freedom from English rule they met to establish the constitution. In addition to the constitution, our founding fathers had the brilliant foresight to set up our government in three different branches, each with oversight powers to regulate the others. These branches are the legislative, judicial and executive. An important facet of the executive branch is law enforcement. Law enforcement is accomplished on the federal level, the state level and the local level by men and women we commonly refer to as police officers. The job of a police officer is vital to our way of life and we entrust our police officers to protect us and, perhaps more importantly, to protect our rights. But who is protecting those that protect us? .
Constitutional Issue .
One of the most important amendments that police officers deal with on a daily basis is the Fourth Amendment. In layman's terms, the Fourth Amendment is the protection from warrantless searches. It guarantees that our person, places and things are protected from unwarranted search and seizure.
