Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to enhance public safety and transparency in the criminal sentencing process in Minnesota. It aims to ensure that information about criminal sentences is easily accessible to the public through a searchable online database.

Main Provisions

• Creation of a Public Database: The bill requires the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission to create and maintain a publicly accessible website that includes a searchable database. This database will provide information about criminal sentences that either have been stayed or imposed by the courts. The database will not include private data as defined by Minnesota law.

• Database Features:

  • The database must include information transmitted from the sentencing court to the commission, including sentencing worksheets, orders, and reports on any deviations from sentencing guidelines.
  • Users can search by various fields, such as case number, defendant name, offense date, judicial district, county, year of sentencing, judge, crime, criminal history score, offense severity, length of sentences, and departures from sentencing guidelines.

• Search and Data Capabilities:

  • Users can search using at least two fields at a time.
  • The ability to sort and group data by each field is required, as well as the option to download the data for further use.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 244.09, by adding a requirement for the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission to develop this new publicly searchable database. It also includes financial allocations for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support the development and maintenance of this database.

Relevant Terms

public safety, Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, searchable database, criminal sentences, sentencing court, public data, sentencing worksheets, sentencing guidelines, database management.