During a lawful frisk, the officer may seize contraband if the incriminating nature is immediately apparent. This describes which doctrine?

• A. Plain touch
• B. Plain smell
• C. Plain feel
• D. Plain sight

Answer: (C)

During a lawful Terry frisk, the officer may seize contraband if the object’s incriminating nature is immediately apparent by touch. This is the plain feel doctrine. The key point is that the officer doesn’t need to manipulate the item beyond what is necessary to conduct the frisk; if the object is plainly contraband just from the initial touch, it can be seized. If identifying the item would require further inspection or manipulation, the seizure would not be allowed under the frisk. This principle comes from the Terry framework and was clarified in precedents like Minnesota v. Dickerson.