SF 852 appropriates funds from the general fund for grants to organizations that received victim services grants in 2024. These grants must support direct services and advocacy for victims of sexual assault, general crime, domestic violence, and child abuse. The funding covers direct client assistance, competitive staff wages, housing supports, culturally responsive programming, and prevention services like restorative justice, with priority for underserved communities. Up to 10% of the funds can cover grant administration. The bill targets organizations serving crime victims across Minnesota’s diverse communities.
This bill requires prosecutors to notify victims when they decline to prosecute violations of orders for protection or harassment restraining orders. It applies directly to victims of domestic abuse, harassment, or stalking who have protection orders violated but face no criminal charges. The key mechanism mandates prosecutors to make "reasonable efforts" to contact victims via phone first, then email or mail, and to explain dismissal reasons (e.g., witness unavailability). The bill updates existing notification rules under Minnesota Statutes to ensure victims receive clear information about their case status without prosecution.
HF 559 requires courts to order convicted individuals who falsely report emergencies to pay restitution. The bill mandates that courts order full restitution to public agencies for their emergency response costs and to direct victims of the false report. This amendment to Minnesota Statutes section 609.78 (2024) applies specifically to those convicted under the statute for making fictitious emergency reports. The restitution requirement does not limit victims' ability to seek additional damages in civil court.
This bill requires correctional authorities to notify crime victims when an offender submits a letter of apology, but only if the victim has previously requested this notification. Victims must submit a written or electronic request to the correctional facility or the Department of Corrections to be included in this notification process. Authorities must make a "good faith effort" to notify these victims within 90 days of the apology being filed. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to add this requirement to existing victim notification procedures, directly affecting victims who proactively opt-in and correctional facilities handling offender correspondence. It does not change the content of apologies or create new victim rights.
This bill allows courts to sentence offenders below standard guidelines if they were victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or sex trafficking. It requires presentence reports to include information about such victimization and permits courts to order reduced sentences when the victimization contributed to the offense and serves the public interest. Offenders placed on probation may also be required to participate in trauma-focused treatment. The law applies to felony sentencing hearings starting August 1, 2025, and affects individuals convicted of crimes who were previously victims of these specific offenses.
HF 1295 amends Minnesota law to include children's advocacy centers as a program eligible to receive 70% of certain fines collected from offenders convicted of specific crimes, such as those involving child abuse or exploitation. The bill requires courts to collect a minimum fine of 30% of the maximum penalty for these crimes and forward 70% of that amount to a local victim assistance program, now explicitly including children's advocacy centers. If multiple programs serve the county, courts may choose which one receives funds based on the crime type and program needs; if no program is available, funds go to the state general fund. This ensures children's advocacy centers can directly access funding to provide services for child victims.
HF 2976 allows courts to consider an offender's experience as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or sex trafficking when determining sentencing. It requires presentence investigation reports to include information about the offender's victimization history and permits these offenders to apply for pardons or clemency. The bill directs the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission to add victimization as an official mitigating factor for sentencing decisions. These changes apply to felony sentencing hearings starting August 1, 2025, and aim to address how victimization history influences sentencing outcomes. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 609.115 (presentence reports) and 609.1057 (sentencing considerations).
SF 1609 clarifies a process for people convicted of certain felony murders to seek retroactive relief. It allows individuals convicted under Minnesota Statutes sections 609.185 (paragraph a, clause 3) or 609.19 (subdivision 2, clause 1) to petition courts if they prove they didn’t cause the death and either didn’t intentionally aid the killing or weren’t a major participant in the underlying felony. If approved, courts must vacate the original murder conviction and resentence the person for the most serious remaining offense, a related felony, or a lesser included offense. The bill ensures sentences don’t increase total confinement time and requires victim notification for any resentencing hearing.
