BOARD/COMMISSION: Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission

(MSGC)

658 Cedar Street, Suite G-58
St. Paul, MN
55155

Web Site

Supported by Staff

ENABLING LEGISLATION
M.S. 244.09.
Enabled: 04-06-1978
Revisor of Statutes Link

CONTACT

Nathaniel Reitz

(651) 296-0144

send email

CHAIR

Kelly Mitchell

(651) 361-7234

send email

Board Staff Support (2)

TITLE

NAME

PHONE

PRIMARY

Executive Director

Nathaniel Reitz

sentencing.guidelines@state.mn.us

(651) 296-0144

Yes

Commission Staff

Jill Payne

jill.payne@state.mn.us

(651) 757-1725

Board Chairs (1)

TITLE

NAME

PHONE

PRIMARY

Chair

Kelly Mitchell

kelly.mitchell@state.mn.us

(651) 361-7234

Yes

DETAILS

Membership

The 11 members include one judge of the Court of Appeals and one district court judge to be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; one public defender; one county attorney; one peace officer; one probation officer; three public members, one of whom must be a victim of a crime defined as a felony; and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the commissioner of Corrections or their designees. The term of any member appointed or reappointed by the governor after the first Monday in January is coterminous with the governor.

COMPENSATION

Per Diem: $50.00
Other Compensation: $50 per diem (for public members) plus expenses

MEMBERSHIP DETAILS

Requires Older Member - no
Requires Senate Approval - no
Members file campaign finance and disclosure - yes

Entity Powers and Duties, Activity Summary

The commission establishes the sentencing guidelines that district courts apply at felony sentencing hearings, conducts related research and analysis, shares information, and advises the legislature.

ACTIVITY SUMMARY

The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines have been in effect since 1980. Their purpose is to establish rational and consistent sentencing standards that promote public safety, reduce sentencing disparity, and ensure that the sanctions imposed for felony convictions are proportional to the severity of the conviction offense and the offender’s criminal history. The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission regularly modifies the Guidelines to accommodate new laws and improve sentencing policy. The agency's research and monitoring functions provide important information to policy makers, including estimates of the fiscal and demographic impact of proposed crime laws and sentencing policies.

Meeting Information

Meetings typically last: Meetings usually begin at 1:00 p.m. and generally last 2.5 hours.

Meeting Frequency: The Commission’s regular meeting calendar, which coordinates with the legislative calendar and public hearing requirements, is the second Thursday of each month, January through April; the first Thursday following the first Saturday in May and September; the first Thursday following the first Tuesday in June; the fourth Thursday in July; the first Thursday following the first Monday in October; the first Thursday in November; and the first Thursday following the second Saturday in December.

Meetings are held at:
Meetings are usually held in Saint Paul. Remote participation is usually an option. See the Commission's website for details.

Fiscal Information

Annual Staff Hours: 800.00

Total Appropriations:

Appropriations Description:

Fiscal Year Expenses: $0.00

Expenses Description:

Open Positions (0)

No Open Positions

Applicants (5)

NAME	POSITION	APPLICATION DATE
Melissa Boone	Public Member – Felony Crime Victim or Victim Advocate	6/11/2024
Amirthini Keefe	Public Member – Felony Crime Victim or Victim Advocate	6/25/2024
John Henderson	Treatment or Rehabilitative Service Provider for Individuals Convicted of Felony Offenses	12/3/2024
Marlin Meszaros	Treatment or Rehabilitative Service Provider for Individuals Convicted of Felony Offenses	11/22/2024
Dr. Matthew Stiehm	Treatment or Rehabilitative Service Provider for Individuals Convicted of Felony Offenses	1/13/2025

Pending Appointments (0)

No pending appointments found.

Direct Appointments (5)

POSITION/SEAT

APPOINTING AUTHORITY

MEMBER NAME

STATUS

TERM END

Direct Appointments

Chair

Governor

Kelly Mitchell

Filled

01/04/2027

Chief Justice Minnesota State Supreme Court, or designee

Minnesota State Supreme Court

Hon. Gordon Moore III

Filled

09/01/2025

Commissioner of Corrections, or designee

Commissioner of Corrections

Kelly Mitchell

Filled

01/04/2027

District Court Judge

Minnesota State Supreme Court

David Knutson

Past Term End

12/31/2023

Minnesota Court of Appeals

Minnesota State Supreme Court

Michelle Larkin

Filled

10/16/2027

Current Members (9)

POSITION/SEAT

APPOINTING AUTHORITY

MEMBER NAME

STATUS

TERM END

Academic with Background in Criminal Justice or Corrections

Governor

Prof. Richard Frase

Filled

01/04/2027

County Attorney

Governor

Ms. Kyra Ladd

Filled

01/04/2027

Peace Officer

Governor

Brian Mueller

Filled

01/04/2027

Probation or Supervised Release Officer

Governor

Latonya Reeves

Filled

01/04/2027

Public Defender

Governor

Cathryn Middlebrook

Filled

01/04/2027

Public Member

Public Member #1

Governor

Surya Saxena

Filled

01/04/2027

Public Member – Convicted and Discharged from Felony-Level Sentence

Public Member #3 (Convicted and Discharged from Felony-Level Sentence)

Governor

Tim Morin

Filled

01/04/2027

Public Member – Felony Crime Victim or Victim Advocate

Public Member #2 (Felony Crime Victim or Victim Advocate)

Governor

Amirthini Keefe

Filled

01/04/2027

Treatment or Rehabilitative Service Provider for Individuals Convicted of Felony Offenses

Treatment or Rehabilitative Service Provider

Governor

Marlin Meszaros

Filled

01/04/2027

ALL BOARDS/COMMISSIONS