Late Friday evening, Senate Democrats forced through a Public Safety budget bill that makes thousands of criminals eligible for early release and reduces sentences for violent offenders. This legislation also funnels millions of dollars to untested and unproven nonprofits, ignoring the needs of law enforcement officers across the state, said Senator Julia Coleman (R-Waconia).

During the floor debate, Senator Coleman successfully offered an amendment to keep in mind the offender and victim proximity in housing initiatives. When those who have left prison are being housed in state-supported facilities, it is critical to ensure that those facilities are not near vulnerable populations. That includes daycares, homes where vulnerable adults lie, and state-sponsored victim housing. Senator Coleman’s amendment would not put in place strict numbers, but instead, recognizes that the state has an obligation to consider these populations when they are housing offenders.

The second part of Senator Coleman’s amendment deals with predatory sexual offender proximity to locations not currently considered.

“My amendment has to do with Level 3 sexual offender proximity to other locations not currently being considered right now,” Senator Coleman said. “Currently, we do consider facilities like schools, but as the City of Victoria found out the hard way, they do not consider places like daycare facilities or residences for vulnerable adults. This policy puts the well-being of victims first, and I hope to see it included in the final Public Safety budget bill.”

Senator Coleman also offered an amendment to increase penalties for fleeing police in a motor vehicle. A person who is fleeing a police officer often does so at a high rate of speed and threatens the safety of people using the roads. People in their path can be injured and killed, and it is critical to treat this serious crime with the heightened attention and punishment it deserves. Democrats refused to accept this reasonable change.

Notable portions of the bill include:

• Allows 92% of the prison population eligible for early release through Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act (MRRA) 
• Reduction of the maximum penalty for juveniles tried as an adult from 25 years to as little as 15 years
• $91 million to untested and unproven nonprofit organizations

“The Democrats’ Public Safety bill fails to keep our communities safe and does not deliver justice to victims of crime,” Senator Coleman said. “This legislation takes a soft-on-crime approach that makes thousands of criminals convicted of serious, and even violent, crimes eligible for early release. I strongly believe that is the wrong approach. We should be sending a clear message that if you commit a violent crime, you will face harsh consequences. It is essential that Minnesotans feel safe and sound once again,” Senator Coleman concluded.