This bill mandates the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission to establish and maintain a publicly accessible, 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 by multiple fields, sort data, and download information into a user-controlled format, while ensuring that non-public data is excluded.

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 transparency in the criminal justice system by making sentencing information readily available to the public.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 244.09