DFL Party Police & Criminal Justice Reform Plan

The list of measures below was assembled by the DFL Party Legislators in the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus and the Walz Administration. Our Party will be working hard to pass these measures during the special session of the Minnesota State Legislature.

Use of Force 

Reform of the keystone statute that defines when law enforcement is justified in using deadly force to prioritize sanctity of life. A recommendation from the Department of Public Safety (DPS)/Attorney General (AG) Deadly Force Encounters Working Group. 

Alternatives to Policing 

Creates new models of ensuring public safety by: 1) Creating a new office within DPS to administer grants to community-based-violence intervenors and problem solvers to intercept violence and reduce interactions with law enforcement, and 2) Funding for a co-responder form of policing that pairs officers with social workers when responding to crisis calls and welfare checks. A recommendation from the DPS/AG Deadly Force Encounters Working Group.

Police Oversight Reform 

Creates a robust framework of accountability of the law enforcement profession through: 1) Expansion of the POST board and creation of a Police-Community Relations Council at the POST Board, 2) Reforming how arbitrations of the termination of law enforcement officers are handled, and 3) Requiring robust, real-time data collection and analysis of complaint, discipline and use of force data and use it to inform reforms at POST Board, particularly as it relates to licensure decisions.

Voting Restoration 

End the disenfranchisement of over 50,000 Minnesotans who are directly impacted by these issues. Those who are not serving a sentence in a prison facility -who are in their communities and contributing to their families and rebuilding their lives -must be provided their right to vote, regardless of supervision status.

Community Healing 

Create a grant program to fund professional community healers trained to respond to systemic oppression-induced historic and present-day trauma through supportive services. A recommendation from the DPS/AG Deadly Force Encounters Working Group. 

Independent Prosecution and Investigation Reform 

Provide the AG with independent jurisdiction for the prosecution of police-involved deaths and create an independent investigation unit within the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for police-involved cases. A recommendation from the DPS/AG Deadly Force Encounters Working Group.

Training Expansion

Expands training in de-escalation and mental health crisis intervention. A recommendation from the DPS/AG Deadly Force Encounters Working Group. 

Warrior Training and Choke Holds Prohibited 

Prohibits the use of all restraints or holds by law enforcement that purposely restrict a person’s airways or blood flow and ends the use of warrior-style training.