Minnesota State Senator Jeremy Miller (Winona) and Minnesota Senate Republicans this week unveiled a new legislative package aimed at improving public safety, repealing the 2023 ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ law, investing in good law enforcement officers, and strengthening sentencing transparency.  

“Minnesotans deserve to feel safe in their homes, neighborhoods, and communities,” Senator Miller said. “We’re putting forward common-sense proposals to ensure violent criminals serve their time, bring clarity to sentencing decisions, and invest in the men and women who protect us every day.”  

The public safety package focuses on three key areas: 

Repealing the ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ law  

The plan includes a repeal of the Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act (MRRA), a law passed in 2023 that allows 92% of Minnesota’s prison population to qualify for early release. Under this law, early release isn’t based on real rehabilitation; it’s nearly automatic. While Republicans support some compromises to allow rehabilitation for certain offenders, the MRRA’s blanket approach went too far.   

Transparent sentencing guidelines 

The Senate Republican public safety pack aims to add more accountability to sentencing decisions by: 

• Requiring the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission to record and publish its meetings. 

• Creating a public, searchable database of sentencing decisions. 

• Requiring legislative approval of sentencing guideline changes to ensure they reflect public safety priorities.

Minnesotans should be able to see how sentencing decisions are made. When repeat offenders get light sentences and end up back on the streets committing new crimes, the public loses trust in the system, and law enforcement officers lose morale.  

Investing in law enforcement training 

The proposal also includes funding to ensure law enforcement officers receive the training they need to ensure they have the skills and preparation needed to keep communities safe — while also protecting themselves. 

• $6 million in ongoing funding for the Philando Castile Memorial Training Fund, a key priority for law enforcement. 

• $3.5 million for the Violent Crime Enforcement Training Fund.

“We’re listening to Minnesotans, to victims, to law enforcement officers, and the message has been clear,” Sen. Miller said. “If you commit a serious crime, you should serve your sentence. If you put on the badge to protect our communities, you should have the training and support you need. And if you want to know how sentencing decisions are made, you should have access to that information. This is about restoring trust, accountability, and safety for every Minnesotan.”