In a lawful stop and frisk, what search limits are imposed on the officer?

In a lawful stop and frisk, the limits imposed on the officer focus primarily on safety concerns. The correct answer indicates that the officer is permitted to conduct a pat-down of the suspect's outer clothing specifically to ensure that the suspect does not possess any weapons. This practice is rooted in the need for officer safety and is based on the principles established in Terry v. Ohio, which allows an officer to stop and briefly detain a person if they have a reasonable suspicion that the individual is involved in criminal activity. Furthermore, if during the pat-down the officer feels an object that is immediately recognizable as contraband or not a weapon, they may seize that item, but the initial frisk is limited to identifying potential weapons only.

This focused restriction ensures that the rights of the individual are respected while also allowing the officer to protect themselves from potential harm during the encounter. The limitations of the stop and frisk concept hinge on the balance between individual rights and public safety during police encounters.