This bill aims to enhance transparency in the criminal justice system by requiring county attorneys in Minnesota to document and report the reasons for dismissing felony charges. Specifically, it mandates that when a county attorney dismisses any part of a criminal action, they must record detailed information, including the defendant's name, the date of the offense, all crimes charged, any charges dismissed, victim support for the dismissal, the date of dismissal, and the reason for the dismissal. This information must be forwarded to the Sentencing Guidelines Commission and published on the county attorney's publicly accessible website, while ensuring that no identifying information about victims is disclosed.

Additionally, the Sentencing Guidelines Commission is tasked with including a summary and analysis of these dismissal reports in its annual report to the legislature. The new provisions are set to take effect on August 1, 2025, and will apply to dismissals occurring on or after that date. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 244.09, by adding a subdivision and proposes new coding for the law in chapter 388.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 244.09