Hernandez v. New York (1985) addressed Fourth Amendment rights in a search. What standard did the Court approve to justify the search?

• A. Probable cause
• B. Reasonable suspicion
• C. Warrant requirement
• D. No search allowed

Answer: (B)

The essential idea is that the Fourth Amendment allows a limited intrusion without a warrant when police have a reasonable suspicion that something criminal is ongoing. This is the standard established in Terry v. Ohio, which lets an officer briefly detain a person and conduct a limited pat-down for weapons if there is reasonable suspicion of danger or criminal activity. In Hernandez v. New York, the Court applied that concept, approving a stop-and-search approach based on reasonable suspicion rather than requiring probable cause or a warrant for every investigative intrusion. The key is that this is a narrow, tailored exception designed to protect the officer’s safety and the public while still respecting individual privacy. It’s not a blanket permission for any search, nor does it set aside the warrant requirement in general; it’s specifically about the justified, limited intrusion during an investigative stop.