Criminal Justice

The following write-ups are produced and maintained by Minnesota House Research Department, with some links provided to other sources.

General Information

• Crime Victim Laws in Minnesota
  A 39-page publication summarizing the major features of Minnesota laws that protect the rights and interests of crime victims. November 2021.
• Dangerous Dogs in Minnesota
• Distracted Driving: Texting and Sending or Receiving Other Electronic Messages
• Do Criminal Laws Deter Crime? Deterrence Theory in Criminal Justice: A Primer
  A 24-page primer that discusses criminal deterrence, which is one theory legislators can use to assess possible changes in criminal justice policy. January 2019.
• Fireworks for Personal Use: The Laws in Minnesota and Surrounding States
• Identity Theft and Related Crimes
  A 15-page information brief summarizing the state's identity theft law and providing a historical summary of identity theft legislation. October 2007.
• The Internet and Public Policy: Criminal Activity on the Internet
  A 12-page information brief discusses criminalization of Internet activities and provides information on federal and state laws enacted to address Internet-related crimes. May 2018.
• Liability for the Crimes of Another
• Methamphetamine Laws in Minnesota
  A 9-page information brief that explains the laws on methamphetamine, including crimes and penalties for violations of the law, restrictions on the sale of precursor drugs, and regulations regarding the use and cleanup of property used to make the drug. May 2008.
• Traffic Citations
  A 9-page information brief that provides an overview of citations for a traffic violation, focusing on basic penalties, assessment of fines, and allocation of fine proceeds. September 2019.

Abuse: Child, Domestic, and Sexual

• Crime Victim Laws in Minnesota
  A 39-page publication summarizing the major features of Minnesota laws that protect the rights and interests of crime victims. November 2021.
• Domestic Abuse Laws in Minnesota: An Overview
  A 36-page publication summarizing the major features of Minnesota laws dealing with domestic abuse, including an explanation of the Domestic Abuse Act, criminal procedure provisions, and victim safety provisions. August 2024.
• Female Genital Mutilation
• Minnesota's Predatory Offender Community Notification Law
• Overview of Criminal Sexual Conduct Crimes
• Predatory Offender Registration
• Reporting Maltreatment of Minors
  A 17-page overview of reporting maltreatment of minors as established in the Maltreatment of Minors Act. The act establishes a system for reporting possible child abuse and neglect, and its related laws and rules. July 2022.
• Sex Offenders and Predatory Offenders: MN Criminal and Civil Regulatory Laws
  A 33-page information brief describing the state's laws applying to sex offenders and predatory offenders including information on crime definitions, criminal penalties, mandatory sentencing, and civil regulations like the community notification law. January 2012.

DWI (Driving While Impaired)

• An Overview of Minnesota's DWI Laws
  A 20-page reference tool highlighting the major portions of DWI law. January 2022.

Firearms

• Tasers in Minnesota: How Energy-Conduced Weapons Are Regulated
  A 6-page information brief that explains how Tasers work and how they are regulated under state and federal law. November 2009.

Judicial Procedures and Laws

• Bail and Pretrial Release in Minnesota
• Criminal Statutes of Limitations
  A 9-page publication overviewing criminal statutes of limitations in general and describing Minnesota's criminal statutes of limitations. August 2024.
• Expungement of Criminal Records
  An 11-page information brief describing the state's laws and appellate court decisions governing the sealing, destruction, or removal of criminal records maintained by government agencies on individuals. January 2016.
• Judicial Branch Overview
  A short description of the court system in Minnesota. October 2014.
• The Minnesota Judiciary: A Guide for Legislators
  A 31-page guidebook describing the structure, functions, personnel, and finances of the judicial branch of state government. September 2019.
• Minnesota's Forfeiture Laws
  A 23-page information brief overviewing the state's general forfeiture laws for most felony offenses and special forfeiture laws for specific crimes. July 2022.
• Prohibition Against Ex Post Facto Laws
• State Jury Service
  A brief description of how the jury system works. July 2019.
• The Tribal Law and Order Act and Minnesota

Juvenile Justice

• Youth and the Law
  A 140-page guidebook explaining state law and court cases that establish rights, responsibilities, and protections for youth, including information on economic protection, education, health and social services, and criminal justice. February 2024.