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SF1695 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Use of deadly force by a peace officer to protect a person from apparent death provision modification

Related bill: HF538

AI Generated Summary

This bill proposes amendments to Minnesota Statutes 2024, Section 609.066, Subdivision 2, modifying the justification for the use of deadly force by peace officers. The key changes include:

  1. Clarification on Deadly Force Justification

    • A peace officer may use deadly force if an objectively reasonable officer would believe, based on the totality of circumstances, that such force is necessary to:
      • Protect the officer or another person from apparent death or great bodily harm, under the following conditions:
      • The threat can be articulated with specificity.
      • The threat is reasonably likely to occur without police action.
      • The threat must be addressed immediately with deadly force.
      • Capture or prevent escape of a suspect who has committed or attempted a felony and who, if not immediately apprehended, will pose a threat of death or great bodily harm under the same criteria as listed above.

  2. Restricting Deadly Force Against Individuals Threatening Self-Harm

    • A peace officer shall not use deadly force against a person who is only a danger to themselves, unless the individual poses a clear, immediate threat of death or great bodily harm to others, based on the same threat criteria.

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to standardize and clarify when deadly force is justified, placing stricter standards on its use and explicitly preventing officers from using deadly force solely based on a person's self-harm risk, unless there is an imminent threat to others.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 19, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
February 19, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toJudiciary and Public Safety

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "No new subsections added, but cross-referenced for limitation emphasis."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No removals noted, section serves as reference."
      ],
      "summary": "This bill references the conditions under which force can be justified as stated in section 609.06, emphasizing amendments concerning officer's use of force.",
      "modified": [
        "Reinforces criteria by adding more detailed threat assessment for police actions."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "609.06"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Contextual emphasis in specifying necessary threat articulation."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No removals from the section, only contextual modifications applied."
      ],
      "summary": "This bill refers to limitations on the use of force already noted in section 609.065, modifying how it applies in practical scenarios.",
      "modified": [
        "Intersects with section 609.066 by introducing additional threat qualification requisites."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "609.065"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Additional criteria for justification of deadly force use."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "Possible elimination of broader interpretation, focusing on specificity."
      ],
      "summary": "Amends section 609.066 concerning peace officer's justifiable use of deadly force in Minnesota.",
      "modified": [
        "Emphasizes reasonable belief and specific threat criteria."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "609.066"
  }
]

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