Final answer:
Reasonable suspicion does not require conclusive proof or specific incriminating evidence, but rather observations or signs that suggest further investigation is warranted, as evidenced in the scenario where police suspect individuals of armed robbery without direct evidence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reasonable suspicion does not require proof that child abuse or neglect has occurred, nor does it require a specific incriminating indication of child abuse or neglect. In the scenario provided, the police have reasonable suspicion based on evidence that both suspects are guilty of carrying an unlawful weapon.
However, while they have a strong suspicion of armed robbery, they lack direct evidence to confirm this more serious crime. This illustrates that reasonable suspicion is based on less concrete evidence than is required for a conviction and is used as a threshold for further investigation.
In the case of child abuse or neglect, professionals who have a duty to report such suspicions often do so based on behaviors or signs that suggest mistreatment may be occurring, even without direct evidence. The goal of reporting is not to prove the abuse but to initiate an investigation that can protect the child.