How does probable cause differ from reasonable suspicion?

• A. Probable cause supports belief that a crime has been or will be committed; reasonable suspicion is a lower standard that justifies brief, non-custodial detentions.
• B. Probable cause is higher than reasonable suspicion but both require warrants.
• C. Probable cause applies to traffic stops; reasonable suspicion applies to arrests.
• D. Reasonable suspicion requires probable cause to search.

Answer: (A)

The difference hinges on the level of justification required for police actions. Probable cause is a higher standard that supports a belief that a crime has been, is being, or will be committed, and it authorizes actions like arrest or the search of a person or place (often with a warrant, though certain circumstances allow warrantless action). Reasonable suspicion is a lower, articulable threshold based on specific facts and rational inferences that crime may be afoot, and it justifies brief, non-custodial stops or detentions to investigate further. So, the best way to describe the distinction is: probable cause supports a belief that a crime has been or will be committed; reasonable suspicion is a lower standard that justifies brief, non-custodial detentions. The other statements mix up the scope or the necessity of warrants and don’t reflect the different levels of proof.