Every year a group of laws go into effect on January 1, and this year is no different. A few bills that were passed this year will officially go into law on January 1, 2024, and while the new laws cover a variety of sectors, we want to use today’s blog to focus on some of the changes coming to criminal law in Minnesota. Below, we review some of the changes that will go into effect in the new year.
Juvenile Law Changes
The most significant legal changes will affect juvenile offenders in Minnesota. Here are the changes that will go into effect on January 1 (the final change went into effect on June 1 of 2023)
- Strip searches of detailed juveniles will no longer be allowed.
- Isolation for juvenile offenders can no longer be used as a form of punishment.
- Life sentences without the possibility of parole for those convicted of homicide under the age of 18 will be prohibited. Individuals who committed the offense as a juvenile must be eligible for parole after serving 15, 20 or 30 years.
All of the changes should have a positive effect on Minnesota youth. Strip searches of young individuals can be traumatizing, embarrassing and a major abuse of power, so it’s good to see the procedure will no longer be used. Additionally, isolation can have a major effect on a person’s mental and emotional well-being, and while we certainly understand that punishment may be in order, isolation can do more harm than good, and the ultimate goal for our juvenile offenders should be to cut recidivism and get them back on the right path. Getting rid of isolation as a form of punishment should help that.
As to the last point, we understand that homicide is a major crime, but research has proven that the brain is still developing during our teenage years, meaning that a life sentence without the possibility of parole may be overly harsh for someone who may not be able to completely comprehend the true nature of their actions. They will still serve a significant time behind bars, and there is no guarantee that parole should be granted, but a parole review after 15, 20 or 30 years seems warranted given their age at the time of the crime.
If we hear of any more criminal laws that are going into effect in January, we’ll be sure to pass them along. In the meantime, if you need help with a criminal matter of your own, please reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
