# Terry Technical Correction Act Plain Language Summary

The Terry Technical Correction Act is a bill that fixes problems in how police officers can stop and search people on the street. It relates to a famous 1968 Supreme Court case called Terry v. Ohio, which set the rules for what's called a "stop and frisk"—when police can briefly detain someone and pat down their clothing to check for weapons without making a full arrest.

This bill makes technical corrections to federal law to clarify and update how these police stops work. Essentially, it's cleaning up outdated or confusing language in the law to make sure it accurately reflects what courts have decided about when police can stop someone they suspect of a crime. The changes help ensure that the rules are clear and consistent across the country, so police officers and courts understand exactly what's allowed and what isn't.

The main people affected by this bill are police officers (who need clear guidance on their authority), people who might be stopped by police (who deserve to know their rights), and the courts that have to interpret these laws. By clarifying the legal language, the bill aims to reduce confusion about police authority during street stops and searches. This matters because unclear laws can lead to inconsistent enforcement, legal disputes, and uncertainty about whether people's rights are being protected properly.

Terry Technical Correction Act

Durbin, Richard J.

Terry Technical Correction Act This bill broadens the scope of crack cocaine offenders who are eligible for a retroactive sentencing reduction under the First Step Act of 2018. The First Step Act made the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 retroactive and authorized sentencing reductions for certain crack cocaine offenders convicted and sentenced before the Fair Sentencing Act became effective. Under current law, crack cocaine offenders whose conduct triggered a mandatory minimum sentence are eligible for a retroactive sentencing reduction under the First Step Act. However, in 2021, the Supreme Court held in Terry v. United States that low-level crack cocaine offenders whose conduct did not trigger a mandatory minimum sentence are not eligible for a retroactive sentencing reduction under the First Step Act. This bill extends eligibility for a retroactive sentencing reduction under the First Step Act to all crack cocaine offenders convicted and sentenced before the Fair Sentencing Act became effective, including low-level offenders whose conduct did not trigger a mandatory minimum sentence.