A host of new laws are set to officially go into effect on August 1, and although not as many of the changes impact the criminal law sector as in years past, we still want to take the time to spotlight some of the changes that affect our line of work. In today’s blog, we highlight some of the criminal law changes that will go into effect in Minnesota on August 1.
Minnesota Criminal Law Changes
Here’s a look at some of the changes that will officially become law on August 1:
Straw Purchases – As we discussed in a previous blog, the penalties for straw purchases in Minnesota will increase from a gross misdemeanor to a felony. A straw purchase describes the action of purchasing a firearm and giving it to a person who would otherwise not be able to obtain it for themselves. Minnesota lawmakers hope the change makes people think long and hard before agreeing to help someone else obtain a firearm.
Juvenile DNA Collection – A new law states that even if a juvenile is willing to supply a sample, law enforcement must obtain parental consent, a warrant or a court order before collecting DNA evidence from a juvenile.
Good Samaritan Update – Immunity will be given to individuals acting in good faith who help someone get medical assistance for a drug-related overdose.
Swatting – Swatting will be upgraded from a gross misdemeanor to a felony when it is done to an elected official, judge, prosecuting attorney, employee of a correctional facility or a peace officer. Swatting describes the action of calling 911 and reporting a fictitious threatening situation that leads to a police or swat team response. Because law enforcement believes there is a credible threat, and because the person being swatted has no idea police have been told they are a threat to safety, it’s easy to see how these situations can lead to tragedy.
Threatening Information – Finally, it will become a misdemeanor crime to publish personal information of a judicial official with the intent to threaten, intimidate, harass or physically injure the individual. The charge will be upgraded to a felony if the act leads to bodily harm for the individual.
If you need help forming a criminal defense plan for one of the above changes, or you hope to beat a charge that has been on the books for years, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
