Is finding contraband relevant to Terry frisk admissible in court?

The admissibility of evidence obtained during a Terry frisk, which is a stop-and-frisk procedure authorized by the Supreme Court, hinges on the circumstances surrounding the search. A Terry frisk is conducted when a law enforcement officer has reasonable suspicion that a person may be involved in criminal activity and may be armed and dangerous. During this brief and limited search, officers are permitted to pat down the outer clothing of a suspect for weapons.

If during the course of a Terry frisk, an officer discovers contraband—items that are illegal to possess, such as drugs or weapons—it can be deemed admissible in court. This principle is rooted in the "plain feel" doctrine, which allows officers to seize items that are immediately recognizable as contraband during a lawful pat-down. The justification is that the officer's safety and the investigation's integrity are paramount, and if the officer has a reasonable belief that they are touching something illegal, they are allowed to seize it.

Due to this legal framework, contraband discovered in the course of a lawful Terry frisk is considered admissible, provided that the frisk was justified and the discovery is in line with the officer's initial reasonable suspicion. Thus, when addressing the question regarding the admissibility of contraband found during a Terry frisk