This bill mandates the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission to establish and maintain a publicly searchable database that provides information on criminal sentences imposed or stayed by the courts. The new subdivision added to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 244.09, outlines the requirements for the database, including the types of information it must contain, such as case numbers, defendant names, dates of offenses, judicial districts, and details about the sentences. The database must allow users to search and sort data by various fields and download the information into a user-controlled format.

Additionally, the bill appropriates funds from the general fund for the development and maintenance of this database, specifying amounts for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with a base appropriation set for fiscal year 2028 and beyond. This initiative aims to enhance public access to sentencing information while ensuring that only public data is included in the database.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 244.09