What did United States v. Sokolow (1989) address regarding police practices?

The case of United States v. Sokolow (1989) is significant in addressing the use of profiles as a basis for establishing reasonable suspicion in drug trafficking cases. In this particular case, the Supreme Court evaluated whether the totality of the circumstances surrounding an individual's behavior could justify the reasonable suspicion necessary for a stop, particularly within the realm of drug trafficking.

The ruling emphasized that law enforcement can utilize a combination of factors derived from profiling to articulate a reasonable suspicion. In Sokolow, the court considered several elements, including the suspect's travel patterns, behavior at the airport, and the presence of drug-related indicators, to conclude that law enforcement had sufficient grounds to stop the individual for questioning.

This case highlighted the legality of using profiling as part of the rationale for reasonable suspicion, provided that it is based on a comprehensive evaluation of the situation rather than just a single indicator or stereotype. As a result, it established a framework for how police can appropriately apply profiling techniques within the boundaries of constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.