Bill > SF2826

This bill amends Minnesota Statutes to expand postconviction relief provisions to include individuals who have received a stay of adjudication, a legal process where a court withholds entering a formal conviction after a guilty plea, effectively giving the defendant a chance to avoid a permanent criminal record. The bill modifies several key sections of the law to consistently include "stay of adjudication" alongside existing language about convictions, allowing individuals with a stay of adjudication to petition the court for relief under similar circumstances as those with formal convictions. Specifically, the bill enables people with a stay of adjudication to file postconviction relief petitions if they believe their rights were violated, if new scientific evidence emerges that could prove their innocence, or if significant changes in law have occurred. The bill also extends the right to request forensic or DNA testing to individuals with a stay of adjudication and adjusts time limits for filing such petitions, generally maintaining the two-year window for filing but providing exceptions for circumstances like newly discovered evidence, mental or physical disabilities, or significant legal interpretations that could retroactively impact their case. The overall intent appears to be providing more comprehensive legal recourse for individuals who have received a stay of adjudication.

Justice

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF2826&ssn=0&y=2025