Can evidence obtained from a frisk, when the item felt is recognized as not a weapon, be submitted in court?

The correct answer is that evidence obtained from a frisk can be submitted in court if it aligns with the plain feel exception. During a frisk, an officer is allowed to pat down an individual to ensure they are not carrying any weapons. If, while conducting this frisk, the officer feels an item that is immediately identifiable as contraband without any further manipulation or probing, it can be legally seized and submitted as evidence. This principle is established in the context of the Fourth Amendment, which governs search and seizure laws.

In this scenario, if the officer feels something that is not a weapon—such as drugs or stolen property—and it is identifiable upon the initial touch (without needing to manipulate the item further), it satisfies the criteria of the plain feel doctrine. This allows for that evidence to be admissible in court, illustrating how the law balances the need for officer safety with the protection of individual rights.