A new law going into effect this weekend targets systemic accountability flaws in how domestic abuse cases are handled in Minnesota.
Police departments across the state will now be required to file formal written incident reports for every abuse call answered, aiming to eliminate data gaps that have historically shielded repeat offenders.
"Some of those cases are falling through the cracks. We want to make sure to give them more time to be able to seek those offenders," says House Public Safety Co-Chair Representative Kelly Moller (DFL-Arden Hills). "We also are going to make sure that law enforcement and judges are considering the alleged offender's entire history when determining the terms of release."
The new law also introduces a mandatory custodial holding period for protection order violations and has created an independent task force to evaluate further system-wide responses.
It also extends the previous 72-hour limit to two weeks, giving investigators more time to work those cases.
Moller tells Vineeta Sawkar on The WCCO Morning News says this is an effort to keep repeat offenders off the streets.
"It just seems like best practices aren't being followed," says Moller. "Certainly as legislators, we hear from victims, survivors, and advocates about cases falling through the cracks as well. And to your point about this being bipartisan, it really isn't a red issue or blue issue. It's solely a public safety issue."
Lawmakers and state officials are hosting a public news conference later Thursday to outline the changes for the public.
