What legal concept allows law enforcement officers to detain individuals temporarily?

The legal concept that allows law enforcement officers to temporarily detain individuals is known as investigative detention, often referred to as a Terry stop. This concept stems from the Supreme Court’s decision in Terry v. Ohio, which established that police can stop and briefly detain a person based on a reasonable suspicion of involvement in criminal activity, even without a warrant or probable cause.

The key aspect of this concept is that it maintains a balance between the need for police officers to investigate potential criminal behavior and the individuals' Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures. During this temporary detention, officers can ask questions, conduct a limited frisk for weapons if they have a reasonable belief that the person may be armed and dangerous, but they cannot detain the individual for an extended period or conduct an extensive search without further justification.

This type of stop is critical for law enforcement as it enables them to address situations where they suspect criminal activity may be occurring without meeting the higher standard of probable cause required for an arrest.