Starting January 1, 2025, Minnesota is hitting “refresh” on its expungement process with the Clean Slate Act. This groundbreaking legislation, spearheaded by Rep. Jamie Long and Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, aims to make the process of clearing criminal records easier, faster, and more accessible. Here’s what you need to know: Why Clean Slate? The traditional petition-based expungement system was cumbersome,...
The general rule in Minnesota is that minors (individuals under the age of 18) charged with crimes fall under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court system. However, there are exceptions to this presumption where a juvenile may have their case “certified” to adult criminal court. Why does it matter? There are key differences between the juvenile and adult court systems...
Super Bowl Sunday is a beloved American holiday, often celebrated with good food, drinks, and most importantly, football! It’s a day when football fans everywhere gather to watch the game and sometimes get a little rowdy. Statistics show that there may be an uptick in crime on Super Bowl Sunday. In preparation for hosting this year’s celebration, and the potential...
Tuesday night community members in Hennepin County came together to voice concerns around the continuing issues of juvenile crime in the twin cities. This listening session is one of a series of such meetings as twin cities communities are grappling with the issues of increased juvenile offenses. Law Enforcement is targeting juvenile crime through Operation Safe Summer, with emphasis on...
As summer continues full steam ahead, so does theft from vehicles. According to the Eden Prairie Police Department, every summer there is an uptick in the number of thefts from vehicles in areas such as parks, stores, gyms, and tourist attractions. To help prevent your valuables from being stolen, be sure to follow any of these three steps: lock it,...
The twin cities have been trending in the right direction regarding violent crime year over year. So far in 2023 there have been 33% fewer homicides, and 37% fewer gun shot victims, and a reduction in carjackings by 45% compared to 2022. Law enforcement agencies in the Twin Cities hope to continue that trend as Operation Safe Summer 2 kicks...
The Juvenile Justice System covers children under the age of 18 in Minnesota. Unlike adult courts, juvenile proceedings are civil proceedings so that the child is protected from the consequences of his or her own conduct. The goal of the Juvenile Justice System is to help children develop responsibility for their unlawful behavior and rehabilitate them. The state statute that...
If your child has been charged with a criminal offense in juvenile court, there can be a lot to worry about. While criminal charges are enough to deal with alone, there may be additional ramifications from public access to criminal records. If a 16 or 17-year-old juvenile offender is charged with a felony offense, court proceedings are public, and the...
If your Halloween plans include pulling what you consider to be a harmless prank, you may be unintentionally damaging property. Even if you simply intended to pull a prank, the Law is only concerned with whether the property was damaged. Criminal damage to property is a general intent crime, meaning that it is irrelevant whether you intended property damage while...
Yes. The police can question children without parental permission. Children can be questioned about something they may have witnessed or their involvement in criminal activity. However, no one, neither adults nor children, can be forced to speak with the police. Just as adults can decline to speak with police, so can children. And if a child requests a parent, lawyer,...
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