Which of the following describes the scope of permissible investigative activities during a Terry stop?

The scope of permissible investigative activities during a Terry stop is accurately described as limited to confirming or dispelling suspicion. This principle is grounded in the framework established by the Supreme Court in Terry v. Ohio, which permits law enforcement officers to stop and investigate a person if they have reasonable suspicion that the individual is involved in criminal activity.

This means that the actions taken by officers must be closely tied to the purpose of the stop, which is to assess whether the suspicion is justified. Officers may conduct a brief investigatory stop, asking questions or checking identification, but they are not authorized to conduct an unlimited search for evidence. Additionally, the nature of the stop is not akin to a full arrest or a complete search, as such actions would require probable cause rather than mere reasonable suspicion. Observing a person without taking any action does not fulfill the investigatory purpose of a Terry stop; the purpose is actively to ascertain facts that confirm or dispel initial suspicions.

Thus, the correct response accurately captures the limited and focused nature of investigative activities permissible during such a stop.