A troubling proposal to go easy on repeat criminals
By: Senator John Jasinski
Friends and neighbors,
I hope you and your family had a wonderful, joyous, and safe Christmas and New Year.
As you know, public safety, crime, and support for the police are issues that Minnesotans are increasingly concerned about. I hear about it frequently around town, and I get calls, emails, and texts about it nearly every day.
That’s why I am so troubled by a proposal from Minnesota’s Sentencing Guidelines Commission (MSGC), the group tasked with reviewing and maintaining consistent criminal sentencing standards. At a December 16 meeting, the MSGC heard public testimony regarding proposed changes that will eliminate additional consequences for an offender who commits a new crime while on supervision for a previous crime.
My Senate Republican colleagues and I released a letter strongly disavowing the proposed changes.
Crime is on the rise in Minnesota. Violent crime went up 16% in 2020 and Minneapolis recently recorded its 90th and 91st murders, nearing its record of 97 murders set in 1995. Public safety consistently polls as a top issue to voters, and Minneapolis voters rejected an amendment to Defund the Police in November.
The MSGC has already reduced all probation sentences to just five years for almost every crime. We are sending the wrong message to would-be offenders. Instead of taking a strong stance that criminals will be punished for committing crimes, we are telling them they will get off with a slap on the wrist.
The commission will likely make a final decision in January.
Resources for individuals struggling with mental health issues
I have written before about what we are doing to tackle Minnesota’s growing mental health crisis and why it is such an urgent issue – especially for Minnesota students.
Covid has exacerbated our mental health crisis, for sure. But it is easy to forget the holidays can be a source of difficulty too. If you are struggling, please take the time to take care of your health, manage your time, and take breaks when you need them. Be aware of your needs, and if it is something serious, please seek help as soon as possible.
Those are just a few simple steps you can take to manage the stress that can often accompany the holidays. RALI Minnesota – the prescription drug abuse leadership initiative – has a good list of additional tips and resources that might be helpful:
https://www.ralimn.org/single-post/supporting-loved-ones-during-the-holidays
Contact me
If you have any questions about these issues or any other legislative topic, feel free to contact me any time at sen.john.jasinski@senate.mn or 651-296-0284. It is a privilege to serve you!