LEGISLATIVE PRIORITES

The Minnesota Second Chance Coalition advocates for effective, just, and responsible laws, policies, and practices to ensure that those who have been involved in the criminal legal system can have meaningful second chances that create paths to achieve self-sufficiency and the opportunity to contribute to their communities to their full potential, and system-involved youth are not limited in their ability to become successful adults.

Are you a legislator, candidate, organization, or individual interested in connecting about state policies? Contact Andrea Palumbo (she/her), Legislative Affairs Committee Co Chairs at

andreapalumbo@mnsecondchance.org

TOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITES FOR 2023

Clean Slate Act

The Clean Slate Act would create an automatic expungement mechanism for certain low-level petty misdemeanor, misdemeanor, and gross misdemeanor offenses after the conditions of sentence and crime-free waiting period requirements are satisfied. Expungement of these records will allow many individuals to find safe housing and good jobs, key factors in reducing recidivism.

Restore the Vote

Formerly incarcerated Minnesotans do not regain the right to vote when they’ve finished
serving their prison time. Only when they’ve finished lengthy periods of supervision can they participate in
our democracy. We believe that people working and paying taxes in their communities should be able to
vote for their elected officials.

Prosecutor Initiated Re-sentencing

This legislation will allow locally elected prosecutors to recommend
prison sentences for judicial review and downward adjustment based on the input of victims, the interests of justice, and other current circumstances. For some people sentenced to prison in the past, their sentence may no longer serve the interests of justice and may not be a good use of critical public safety resources.

DHS Background Checks Legislation

Every year many well-qualified workers are forced to abandon their careers in health care because they are unable to pass a background check. The barriers to their employment are old convictions, juvenile records, or even arrests/dismissed criminal cases. This bill clarifies and updates key parts of the DHS background study process, changes which will allow people to find well paying and stable employment in a sector of the economy experiencing a critical labor shortage.

Minnesota Second Chance Coalition supports the following initiatives and proposed legislation in addition to our Top Legislative Priorities

Juvenile Justice Reform

The current state of knowledge of adolescent brain development allows us to reconsider the impacts of policies regarding juvenile justice-involvement on young people.

We are proud to stand alongside our partners at MN Coalition for Youth Justice to support a juvenile justice reform package with those considerations in mind.

Reintegration Driver’s License

This legislation expands the concept of a limited driver’s license for
individuals leaving incarceration. A reintegration license will allow its holders to drive not only to work and back, but to do other important everyday activities such as grocery shopping, going to religious services, or taking their children to school. Community ties and involvement are also key factors in reducing recidivism.

2022 LEGISLATION

House File 2349: Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act established, earned incentive release and supervision abatement status provided, reports required, and money appropriated.

House File 3464: Clemency Review Commission established, and report required.

House File 876: Right to vote restored to individual convicted of a felony upon completion of any term of incarceration imposed and executed by a court for the offense.

House File 0922: Corrections; guidelines for use of restraint on juveniles established, general public excluded from delinquency hearings, juvenile arrest alternatives provided, and juvenile risk assessment provided.

House File 0947: Delinquent children and youth in detention facility visual inspection prohibited, delinquent children and youth in detention facility disciplinary room time prohibited, and delinquency and detention age raised to 13 years old.