Bill > HF2976

This bill introduces comprehensive reforms to address the experiences of individuals who have been victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or sex trafficking within the criminal justice system. The legislation allows courts to consider a person's history of victimization when sentencing, with the potential for a mitigated departure from standard sentencing guidelines if the court determines that the victim's traumatic experiences were a contributing factor to the crime and that a reduced sentence would serve the public interest. The bill requires presentence investigation reports to include information about the defendant's experiences of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or sex trafficking, and expands opportunities for such individuals to apply for pardons or clemency by considering their victimization as a relevant factor. Additionally, the bill directs the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission to explicitly include victimization experiences as a potential mitigating factor in sentencing recommendations. The legislation aims to recognize the complex ways in which trauma can influence criminal behavior and provide a more nuanced approach to justice that takes into account an individual's experiences of victimization. The changes will take effect on August 1, 2025, and apply to sentencing hearings, presentence investigations, and clemency applications from that date forward.

Justice

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF2976&ssn=0&y=2025