Meeting’s focus: Race and the Law: How We Can Improve Equity in the Criminal Justice System
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Next Wednesday, January 29, the Minnesota House Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform Division and the Judiciary & Civil Law Division will hold a public hearing at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. The meeting, titled “Race and the Law: How We Can Improve Equity in the Criminal Justice System,” will take place at 5 p.m. in the school’s auditorium. The meeting is free to attend and open to the public.
“There are significant racial disparities throughout our criminal justice system which lead to harmful outcomes for individuals and entire communities,” said Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL – Saint Paul), the House Public Safety Division chair. “As policymakers, we have a responsibility to address them thoughtfully and deliberately through legislative action. Mitchell Hamline will provide us a unique venue to have a robust discussion about potential solutions.”
“The disparities people of color experience through every point in the criminal justice process are unacceptable, and the data shows in Minnesota, there is justice for less than all,” said Rep. John Lesch (DFL – Saint Paul), the House Judiciary Division chair and alumnus of the former Hamline University School of Law. “This session, we have the capacity to make a great deal of progress on these important issues, and I’m hopeful our hearing at Mitchell Hamline will help deliver some momentum.”
Several experts are scheduled to provide testimony on a variety of issues as they relate to race, including: Artika Roller, Executive Director of the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, who will discuss victims’ issues; Dr. Tracie Keesee, the Center for Policing Equity’s Vice President of Law Enforcement and Social Justice Initiatives will discuss policing issues; Perry L. Moriearty, Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota Law School and Hennepin County District Court Judge Tanya Bransford will discuss pretrial and trial issues; and Rob Stewart, Executive Director of the Minnesota Justice Research Center will discuss post-conviction issues.
Afterward, attendees are invited to an informal reception with light snacks refreshments provided.
WHAT: Minnesota House of Representatives joint hearing of the Judiciary & Civil Law and Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform Committees
WHEN: Wednesday, January 29, 5 – 7 p.m.
WHERE: Mitchell Hamline School of Law Auditorium, 875 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul