What limits the authority of officers to detain and frisk individuals?

The correct choice focuses on the importance of a warrant in determining an officer's authority to detain and frisk individuals. When officers have a valid warrant that names specific individuals, their authority to detain those individuals is clearly established. This ensures that law enforcement actions are not arbitrary but are instead grounded in legal justification, which is fundamental in protecting citizens' rights.

When a warrant is issued, it typically specifies not only the individuals to be apprehended but may also outline the scope of the search and seizure that can be conducted. This limits officers to acting within the realm of the law as dictated by the warrant, ensuring that individuals not named in the warrant cannot be unlawfully detained or frisked.

While other factors, such as the presence of children, the location of the search, and the severity of the crime, can influence law enforcement decisions, they do not provide the same direct legal parameters that a warrant does. Only the presence of a valid warrant naming individuals provides clear and legally enforceable authority for detaining and frisking.