A bill receiving committee approval aims to clear up some confusion about domestic abuse no contact orders. These orders were created by a 2000 law.
“Domestic abuse no contact orders is a criminal order,” said Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Red Wing), who sponsors
HF2491. “We’re not changing that; we’re simply stating that in the definition so it relieves some of the ambiguity in statute right now.”
The bill also aims to clarify that an order can be initiated at the same hearing as a pretrial release or sentencing proceeding.
Approved Feb. 28 by the House Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee, the bill was sent to the House Judiciary Policy and Finance Committee. A companion,
SF2134, sponsored by Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria), awaits action by the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.
Liz Richards, director of advocacy and systems change at the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, said a 2010 law made some statutory changes including the moving of domestic abuse no contact orders from one section of family law into the criminal statute.
Since then there has been much confusion and concern about the statute, including the process set forth, she said. “These changes deal with the procedural questions.”
Keeping the courts adequately funded
Public safety finance law doesn’t gut Human Rights Department
(view full story)
Published 8/11/2011
Governor vetoes public safety bill
At about $1.8 billion in spending, no cuts to courts were proposed
(view full story)
Published 7/15/2011
DNA - It’s all in the family
Familial DNA could help solve criminal cases, but at what cost?
(view full story)
Published 4/8/2011
Creating a ‘Safe Harbor’
Wide-ranging support for bill to decriminalize juveniles exploited by prostitution
(view full story)
Published 4/1/2011
Two omnibus bills merged into one
DFL legislators oppose cuts to Department of Human Rights, Civil Legal Services
(view full story)
Published 4/1/2011
Safety versus savings
Home fire sprinklers would be costly, but can save lives
(view full story)
Published 3/4/2011
Minnesota Index: State corrections
Figures and statistics on Minnesota's correctional system
(view full story)
Published 2/25/2011
How young is too young?
Committee debates age for youth being charged as an adult in certain cases
(view full story)
Published 2/18/2011