The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission

The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission is an ongoing policy-making body created to develop and maintain a model for rational and consistent sentencing standards that promote public safety and reduce disparity in sentencing practices throughout the state. 

The Commission monitors and compiles data on all felony sentences pronounced in Minnesota in a given year. The monitoring data is offender-based and classified based on the most serious offense sentenced.

The Sentencing Guidelines Commission itself consists of the following: the chief justice of the Supreme Court or a designee; one judge of the Court of Appeals, appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court; one district court judge appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court; one public defender appointed by the governor upon recommendation of the state public defender; one county attorney appointed by the governor upon recommendation of the board of directors of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association; the commissioner of corrections or a designee; one peace officer as defined in section 626.84 appointed by the governor; one probation officer or parole officer appointed by the governor; and three public members appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be a victim of a crime defined as a felony.

Wilson Criminal Defense and its Twin Cities criminal defense attorneys actively monitors the Commission’s reporting and utilizes this information in arguing sentences, appeals, postconviction motions, and more.

For more information: https://mn.gov/sentencing-guidelines/