Minnesota police ramp up marijuana enforcement
With cannabis legalization legislation being proposed in Minnesota, it may appear that there is widespread support for proposals to end the criminalization of people found with marijuana. Recreational cannabis has already been legalized in 11 states, and Minnesota may join them in the future. Nevertheless, in 2019, drug enforcement teams in the state reported a […]
Challenging racial bias in criminal cases
Some Minnesota residents have raised serious concerns about the impact of racial bias on criminal convictions and sentencing. Studies have shown that black defendants face disproportionately longer sentences and may be more likely to remain in pretrial detention. Some researchers have attributed this ongoing issue to implicit racial bias, when jurors or judges do not […]
4 Essential Steps to Take After a Car Accident
Following a car accident, it can be challenging to get your bearing and figure out the necessary steps you need to take. Sure, the initial 911 call, identifying any damages on your car, and collecting insurance info are all givens — but there’s a laundry list of to-dos that unfortunately get forgotten in the hours […]
The DUI crash rate has gone down in most states
According to a study conducted by Siegfried and Jensen, Minnesota has the toughest drunk driving laws in the nation. However, the state ranked 17th in the nation in reducing DUI crashes per 100,000 drivers between 2004 and 2018. In 2004, Minnesota had a DUI crash rate of 5.1, and in 2018, that rate had dropped […]
Three men arrested during Hibbing drug bust
On Jan. 8, Minnesota authorities arrested three men for allegedly possessing and distributing methamphetamine. The trio was taken into custody in Hibbing. According to media releases, deputies from the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at an apartment complex on the 2000 block of 6th Avenue East at approximately 8:40 p.m. A […]
Minnesota DWI charges increased by 4% in 2019
More people were detained in Minnesota in 2019 on suspicion of driving while intoxicated (DWI) than in the previous year. A preliminary report that was released from the Department of Public Safety detailed the number of drivers detained on DWI charges as part of a program to decrease the number of drunk drivers on the […]
Harsh fentanyl laws may hurt poor communities
Minnesota residents may or may not be aware that analogs of fentanyl were classified as Schedule 1 drugs in an emergency order that was issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration. That emergency order, which made it easier for the DEA to seize fentanyl analogs and investigate people trafficking in these drugs, is scheduled to expire […]
Racial gaps persist in criminal justice system
Criminal justice reform advocates in Minnesota have drawn attention to the racial disparities that persist across the country in imprisonment rates and sentencing. According to a study conducted by the Council on Criminal Justice, these racial gaps have decreased over the past 16 years. The council is a non-partisan organization that includes experts from different […]
Duluth cops seize record amount of fentanyl
On Nov. 21, Minnesota authorities arrested two men for allegedly distributing fentanyl in the Duluth area. The undercover operation led to the seizure of 80 grams of pure fentanyl powder, which is the largest amount ever confiscated in the state. According to local media outlets, the defendants, a 29-year-old resident of Duluth and a 35-year-old […]