Republicans in the Minnesota Senate are touting public safety bills that are working their way through the legislative process.
The group recently passed SF 2673 out of committee. The legislation would target sentence requirements for criminals, support for law enforcement, and additional transparency in the judicial process.
According to supporters of the legislation, the potential law is needed to address an extended crime spike in the state.
“Minnesota is experiencing a dangerous increase in violent crime across the state because criminals are not being held accountable for their crimes. The Public Safety Committee adopted several “tough on crime” bills that increase penalties for repeat offenders, carjackers, and violent crimes involving firearms. There is also enhanced support for the Violent Crime Enforcement Teams (VCET), which have been successful at targeting drugs and guns across the state,” said State Senator John Jasinski (R-Faribault).
“Prosecutors and judges are too frequently letting criminals off easy only to see them commit additional, and often worse, crimes. This bill takes several steps to improve transparency for the decisions made by prosecutors and judges that lead to early releases and failures to charge criminals to the fullest extent possible.”
Previously, SF 3487 was introduced by State Senator Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove) and would establish a legal statute for organized retail crime and details various levels of penalties.
The bill, endorsed by the Minnesota Retailers Association and the Minnesota Organized Retail Crime Association, is working its way through various committees.
“In 2020, 75% of retailers saw an increase in organized crime, and I authored my bill in response to this drastic surge,” said Limmer. “Currently, 34 states have already defined organized retail crime, and by putting this definition into Minnesota law, we will have a modernized tool to address the changing ways organized retail crimes are carried out.”
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Minnesota Sun and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]
