What does the duration of a Terry stop depend on?

The duration of a Terry stop is fundamentally tied to the purpose of the stop. A Terry stop, which is a brief investigative detention based on reasonable suspicion, must be limited in scope and duration to the specific reason for which it was initiated. Law enforcement officers are permitted to conduct such a stop only as long as necessary to confirm or dispel their suspicions regarding criminal activity.

If the purpose of the stop is to investigate a particular behavior or to ask specific questions related to that suspicion, the stop should not extend beyond that investigative aim. Any prolongation of the stop must be justified by the emergence of new facts or reasonable suspicion that warrants additional inquiry. This principle ensures that the rights of individuals are upheld while still allowing law enforcement to perform necessary duties.

While other factors, such as the officer's discretion, can influence how long a stop lasts, they do not define its duration in the same clear-cut way as the purpose of the stop. The focus must remain on the initial suspicion that led to the stop, ensuring it is not extended unnecessarily.