Reasonable Cause

Paper Summary:

This paper presents a detailed examination of the requirement of reasonable cause when it comes to stop-and-frisk. The writer argues that because of the increased threat of domestic terrorism the laws should be changed so that reasonable cause is no longer required for stop-and-frisk actions.

From the Paper:

"Several years ago Britain took a significant step in its war on terrorism when it changed the laws regarding mandated criteria for stop and search. In an unprecedented move the British government changed the law so that police officers do not have to have reasonable cause to stop and frisk. The new powers given to police allow them to stop anyone, anywhere at anytime to frisk and search. Britain did this in an effort to fight the ever growing threat of domestic terrorism. If the person in question refuses to allow a search they can be arrested, jailed and fined for that refusal(Stop, 1996). The vote to allow the new power by law enforcement was almost unanimously supported. While Britain and America have spent the last 13 years fighting international terrorism side by side, America has insisted on hanging onto its stop and frisk laws. American laws mandate that the law enforcement officials have reasonable cause to stop and frisk before they are allowed to do so."

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