A consensual encounter occurs when an officer comes into voluntary contact with a citizen under circumstances in which a reasonable person would feel free to leave at any time and go about their business. This describes which concept?

A consensual encounter occurs when an officer comes into voluntary contact with a citizen under circumstances in which a reasonable person would feel free to leave at any time and go about their business. This describes which concept?

• A. A seizure of a person
• B. A non-consensual contact
• C. When officer comes into voluntary contact with a citizen under circumstances in which a reasonable person would feel free to leave
• D. A checkpoint stop

Answer: (C)

Consensual encounter is when a police-citizen interaction is voluntary and a reasonable person would feel free to leave at any time. The description given matches this exactly—the officer and citizen interact without detaining the person or using authority to compel stay or questions. In a consensual encounter, questions or casual contact can occur, but there’s no seizure and no coercion; the person can walk away if they choose. A seizure would involve some display of authority or restraint that makes the person feel they’re not free to go. A non-consensual contact isn’t voluntary. A checkpoint stop is an actual, non-voluntary stop at a location where the driver is kept for a period, not the voluntary, free-to-leave scenario described here.

Consensual encounter is when a police-citizen interaction is voluntary and a reasonable person would feel free to leave at any time. The description given matches this exactly—the officer and citizen interact without detaining the person or using authority to compel stay or questions. In a consensual encounter, questions or casual contact can occur, but there’s no seizure and no coercion; the person can walk away if they choose. A seizure would involve some display of authority or restraint that makes the person feel they’re not free to go. A non-consensual contact isn’t voluntary. A checkpoint stop is an actual, non-voluntary stop at a location where the driver is kept for a period, not the voluntary, free-to-leave scenario described here.