What is the difference between probable cause and reasonable suspicion?

Probable cause and reasonable suspicion are two legal terms used in criminal procedure in California. Probable cause is a more stringent standard that must be met before a law enforcement officer can take certain actions like making an arrest or obtaining a search warrant. In general, probable cause means that a law enforcement officer has enough facts or evidence to believe that a crime has been committed or is about to be committed. Reasonable suspicion, on the other hand, is a lower standard than probable cause and merely requires that a law enforcement officer has enough facts or evidence to believe that an individual may be involved in criminal activity. In general, reasonable suspicion means that the law enforcement officer has some evidence of criminal activity, but it is not enough to prove that the individual is guilty of a crime. The main practical difference between the two is that probable cause is required when making an arrest or obtaining a search warrant, while reasonable suspicion is usually required for things like traffic stops or pat-down searches. In general, probable cause is a much higher standard than reasonable suspicion, and the legal process recognizes this.

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