SAINT PAUL – State Representative Matt Grossell, R-Clearbrook, introduced a bill that will make Minnesota law stronger with regards to criminal sexual conduct. The bill will eliminate stays of imposition and adjudication for sex crimes, increase supervision post incarceration for some crimes from ten years to life, and increases length of punishment for those convicted of child pornography crimes.
“Following conversations with law enforcement professionals and the report by KARE 11 on how predators were given stays on their sentences only to offend again, I knew we had to do something to stop this practice,” said Rep. Matt Grossell, R-Clearbrook. "These stays were being misused and placing dangerous predators back on the street.”
A KARE 11 investigation detailed how courts were using stays as a tool for cases involving criminal sexual conduct towards children. The defendants would enter guilty pleas in court but instead of prison the defendants entered probation; if they successfully completed a treatment program, the charges would be dismissed and no conviction would appear on the defendant’s record.
“As a society, we must protect the most vulnerable among us,” said Rep. Grossell. “These are heinous crimes and those who commit them must not be allowed to do so again. This bill increases penalties and increases the amount of time the predators are under supervision.”
This bill would become effective August 1, 2017 and apply to offenses committed after that date.
House File 1572 has two dozen co-authors in the House and has been referred to the Public Safety and Security Policy and Finance Committee.
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