re: REINSTATE>Jordan Jefferson

quote:

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Probable cause is merely "reasonable suspicion." That's it.

Probable cause only means that the police just have to have a "reasonable suspicion" that Jefferson committed a crime.

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Let me help you here. In legal terms, "reasonable suspicion" means that a law enforcement officer has evidence to suggest that a person "might" be involved in criminal activity. With this level of suspicious, a police officer may seize a subject on a temporary basis to determine if the subject is involved in the commission of a crime. With reasonable suspicion, a police officer can: initiate a traffic stop, detain subjects or seize items during the course of a brief investigation.

Probable cause is a whole different animal. Legally speaking, it means that law enforcement personnel feel that a person is "probably" involved in criminal activity. Very subtle difference in the wording but with a huge difference. With probable cause, officers may permanently seize (arrest) a subject. The brief investigation has been conducted and the officer believes that a crime has been committed, a subject(s) have been taken into custody, and enough evidence exists to suggest he committed the crime.

Here's how it goes:

Some/mere suspicion
Reasonable suspicion
Probable cause
Reasonable certainty
Proof beyond a reasonable doubt (determined by a jury)

So reasonable suspicion =/= probable cause.