Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission: A Resource Guide

Overview of the Facility

The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission is not a correctional facility but a state agency responsible for establishing and maintaining the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines. These guidelines provide a framework for sentencing convicted felons in Minnesota's district courts.

Contact Information

Address: 658 Cedar Street, Suite G-58, St. Paul, MN 55155
Phone: (651) 296-0144
Website: https://mn.gov/sentencing-guidelines/
Email: [email protected]

Purpose and Function

The Commission's primary responsibilities include:

Establishing and maintaining sentencing guidelines for the district courts
Modifying the guidelines as necessary
Conducting ongoing research on sentencing practices
Providing training on guidelines to judges and practitioners
Assisting in the development of criminal justice policy

History of the Commission

The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission was established by the Minnesota Legislature in 1978. It was created to develop and maintain a model for rational and consistent sentencing standards for felony offenses. The first set of guidelines became effective on May 1, 1980.

Commission Composition

The Commission consists of 11 members appointed by the Governor, including:

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or a designee
Two district court judges
One public defender
One county attorney
The Commissioner of Corrections or a designee
Three public members
One peace officer
One probation or parole officer

Sentencing Guidelines

The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines provide a framework for sentencing convicted felons. They take into account:

The severity of the offense
The offender's criminal history
Aggravating and mitigating factors

The guidelines aim to ensure that sentencing is more uniform and proportional across the state.

Resources and Publications

The Commission provides several resources on its website, including:

The current Sentencing Guidelines and Commentary
Training materials
Reports and data on sentencing practices
Sentencing Worksheets

Public Meetings

The Commission holds regular public meetings. Information about upcoming meetings and minutes from past meetings can be found on their website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines?

The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines are a set of standards used by judges to determine sentences for convicted felons. They take into account the severity of the offense and the offender's criminal history to promote consistency in sentencing across the state.

Are the Sentencing Guidelines mandatory?

While the guidelines are not strictly mandatory, judges are required to follow them unless they find substantial and compelling reasons to depart from them. Any departures must be justified in writing.

How often are the Sentencing Guidelines updated?

The Commission reviews and updates the guidelines annually. Major changes typically go into effect on August 1st of each year, coinciding with the effective date of new criminal laws passed by the legislature.

Can the public attend Commission meetings?

Yes, Commission meetings are open to the public. Meeting dates, times, and locations are posted on the Commission's website.

How can I access sentencing data and reports?

The Commission regularly publishes reports and data on sentencing practices in Minnesota. These can be accessed on their website under the "Reports & Data" section.

General Visiting and Contacting Information

We provide detailed visiting and contact information for Sentencing Guidelines Commission. If you are have completed a Sentencing Guidelines Commission inmate search and have located an inmate, the information on this page will help you to stay in contact. We help you send money to jail, send & receive text messages, and provide the address for in-person visits.

Sending Money

Inmates who are currently imprisoned in Sentencing Guidelines Commission can receive money into their commissary account via money order, check or cash. Inmate visitors can also deposit money directly into the inmate's account at prison administrative office. Note: When sending the money via money order or check, mention the inmate id and full name on the back of the slip.

Sending a Package / Mail

You can send any mail to the inmates who are imprisoned in Sentencing Guidelines Commission. Please send the mail or package to the address mentioned below.

Inmate Name,

Inmate ID,

525 Park Street, Suite 220, St. Paul, MN, 55103

Please make sure the mail or package that you are sending comes under the list of approved items. For further clarification on the allowed items, contact the prison administration directly on 651-296-0144 .

Note: In case you want to send packages, you need to get prior approval from the prison administration. Contact the prison / jail staff for more information.

Phone calls

Inmates can call to any person outside who are on the approved members list between 7:00 AM to 7:30 PM. The cost of the call is beared by the receiver and the call can be of maximum 30 minutes. During rush hours, the calling time is reduced drastically to 10 minutes.

Visitation Rules

You need to get yourself registered in the visitors list before visiting any inmate in the prison. If you are visiting someone in Sentencing Guidelines Commission, make sure you are in approved visitors list. Confirm with the prison authorities before coming to visit the inmate.

Listed below are the basic visitation rules which one must adhere to:

Visitor must not be a prior felon.
Visitor must have a valid government ID.
A legal guardian must be accompanied for children below 16 years of age.

Sentencing Guidelines Commission Inmate Searcher

Fill out the form below and receive a detailed report on an inmate. This includes current and previous arrest records, social media handles, current and previous addresses & phone numbers.

First Name*

Last Name*

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