Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Practice Exam

What is often described as a gut feeling based on law enforcement knowledge?

1. Probable cause

2. Mere suspicion

3. Reasonable suspicion

4. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt

The correct answer is: Mere suspicion

Mere suspicion is described as a gut feeling based on a law enforcement officer's experience and knowledge. This concept refers to an officer’s instinctive belief that something may be amiss, but it doesn't rise to the level of more concrete legal standards like probable cause or reasonable suspicion. It indicates a low threshold of concern that may lead an officer to investigate further but does not provide enough basis for actions such as detaining a person or conducting a search. Probable cause, in contrast, involves a more defined set of circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe that a crime has been committed. Reasonable suspicion is a step up from mere suspicion; it specifies that an officer has specific and articulable facts that suggest criminal activity is occurring or will occur. Finally, proof beyond a reasonable doubt is the highest standard in the legal system, primarily used in criminal trials to secure a conviction. Thus, mere suspicion is characterized by a more instinctive or intuitive hunch rather than a solid, evidential foundation.