What is the term for a quick search of a location to determine whether other armed persons may be present?

• A. Protective Sweep
• B. Joyce Search Warrant
• C. Trace Evidence
• D. Terry Stop

Answer: (A)

A quick, limited search of a location to ensure no other armed persons are present is a protective sweep. This safety‑focused sweep is conducted after or during a lawful entry or arrest when officers have reason to believe someone else could be nearby and pose a danger. It stays tightly scoped to areas where a hidden person could be hiding, not a broad search for evidence. The idea is to quickly verify safety—e.g., checking closets, under beds, or behind doors—without turning into a full investigative search. This concept comes from Fourth Amendment practice and case law that allows such a limited search to protect officers and others on scene. The other terms don’t fit: a Terry Stop is about a brief detention and frisk during a stop for investigation, not a safety check inside a location; trace evidence refers to material left at a scene; a Joyce Search Warrant isn’t a standard legal term.