Families and friends, from Moose Lake to Waseca, mourned the devastating losses of innocent loved ones. And while indictments have been brought in some of these cases, a larger indictment looms over Minnesota s criminal justice system. It s time to take direct aim at the gaps and loopholes in our present system that jeopardize everyone s security. It will provide families and communities with instant specific information to protect themselves from these predators. The bill will also establish much stronger penalties for convicted sex offenders who fail to register with local authorities or who provide false information .
Current law makes it a gross misdemeanor to fail to register or to provide false information.
This ensures that the courts have continuing jurisdiction over violent offenders. Courts can put strict conditions on any probation and return the offender to prison for any violations at any time for the rest of the offenders life. The message must be sent to those offenders that we will not allow them to get off lightly for committing violent crimes with guns. With a strong message and a strong law, criminals will be more likely to leave our cities and fewer will feel comfortable coming here. An offender gets an automatic minimum 20-year prison sentence if the firearm is discharged during the commission of the crime.