During a stop and frisk, is it permissible to squeeze bags or containers?

The rationale behind the correct answer lies in the legal framework governing stop-and-frisk situations, specifically the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures. The practice of stop and frisk allows law enforcement officers to temporarily detain a person if they have reasonable suspicion that the person is involved in criminal activity, and to perform a limited pat-down of the person's outer clothing to check for weapons.

The correct response indicates that it is permissible to squeeze bags or containers when the officer is specifically checking for weapons. During the course of a pat-down, if an officer feels an object that could reasonably be a weapon, they may manipulate that object to determine its nature. This is grounded in the necessity for officer safety, allowing them to ensure that they are not encountering any imminent threats when interacting with individuals who may be armed.

This practice is tightly regulated to balance officers' safety against individuals' rights, focusing on the officer's reasonable belief that a weapon is present. Other scenarios, such as searching without probable cause or consent, would not conform to established legal standards and protections regarding personal privacy and freedom from unreasonable search.