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 Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission is a thirteen-member body comprised of the Chief Justice or designee; a judge of the Court of Appeals appointed by that court’s Chief Judge; a district court judge appointed by the Judicial Council; the Commissioner of Corrections or designee; and nine members appointed by the Governor. The Governor’s nine appointees are: a public defender; a county attorney; a peace officer; a probation officer or supervised release officer; someone working for an organization that provides treatment or rehabilitative services for those convicted of felony offenses; an academic with a background in criminal justice or corrections; and three public members, of whom one must have been a felony crime victim or a victims’ advocate, and one must have been formerly convicted of and discharged from a felony sentence. The Governor also designates the Chair.

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. 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: 272.00

Total Appropriations:

Appropriations Description:

Fiscal Year Expenses: $0.00

Expenses Description:

Open Positions (0)

No Open Positions

Applicants (3)

NAME	POSITION	APPLICATION DATE
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

Past Term End

09/01/2025

Commissioner of Corrections, or designee

Commissioner of Corrections

Kelly Mitchell

Filled

01/04/2027

District Court Judge

Minnesota State Supreme Court

Hon. Leonardo Castro

Filled

06/18/2029

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

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