How is reasonable suspicion defined?

Reasonable suspicion is defined as a belief based on articulable facts suggesting that criminal activity is afoot. This means that law enforcement personnel, including Coast Guard boarding team members, must be able to articulate specific facts or circumstances that lead them to suspect that a person is engaged in criminal behavior. This standard is less than probable cause but more substantial than a mere hunch or intuition.

In practice, reasonable suspicion is founded on observable behaviors, witnesses' accounts, or other pieces of information that can be clearly articulated. For example, if a boarding team observes a vessel acting erratically, such as changing speed frequently and failing to respond to signals, those observations can provide the basis for reasonable suspicion that the crew might be involved in illegal activities.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the definition of reasonable suspicion. A vague feeling lacks the required specificity and fails to establish a factual foundation. Assuming that all crew members are innocent does not incorporate any form of scrutiny or investigation and contradicts the need for vigilance in law enforcement. Lastly, a suspicion that requires immediate evidence does not align with the concept of reasonable suspicion, which primarily relies on pre-existing facts and circumstances rather than requiring concrete evidence at that moment.