The MN Sentencing Guidelines Comprehensive Review is a multi-year initiative by the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission (MSGC) to thoroughly examine and potentially revise the state's felony sentencing guidelines, a framework governing prison sentences for all felony offenses in Minnesota. Launched in 2023, the review is the first of its kind since the guidelines' inception in 1978, aiming to enhance fairness, consistency, public safety, and proportionality in sentencing by incorporating research, internal deliberation, and extensive public and stakeholder input.

The MSGC Data Library is a collection of short reports and statistics that have been previously requested through our data request portal. This often includes departure and plea information. Organized by sentencing grid and offense, the Data Library provides easy, quick access to some of our most requested information!

The MSGC meetings page has moved from main navigation to under The Commission. You can find general meeting information, upcoming meetings, and details on previous Commission meetings.

The 2025 edition of the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines and Commentary was published on August 1, 2025, and is effective for crimes committed on or after that date. For the most current Sentencing Guidelines visit our Sentencing Guidelines & Commentary page.

MSGC meetings serve as a forum for developing and refining the guidelines, taking into account current sentencing practices, correctional resources, public safety concerns, and the long-term impact of crime on communities. These public meetings address various aspects of the sentencing guidelines, including changes related to new legislation, technical modifications, analysis of sentencing practices data, and updates on the ongoing comprehensive review of the guidelines. The meetings are open to the public, and opportunities are provided for public input and engagement. The Commission actively seeks feedback from a range of stakeholders, including judges, policymakers, and individuals impacted by the justice system, to ensure the guidelines are reflective of community values and best practices. These meetings are crucial to the ongoing effort to ensure that Minnesota's felony sentencing practices are fair, just, and effective in promoting public safety and reducing disparities. For information regarding meetings of the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, please visit our meetings page.

The "Research & Data" section is a valuable resource for anyone interested in felony sentencing practices in Minnesota. This section offers a detailed data library and a variety of reports – such as reports to the legislature and annual summary statistics. Visitors can explore the data library, annual summary reports, data summaries, mandatory reports, and specific reports focusing on particular crime types or sentencing practices. Data requests for specific information can also be submitted. For these reports and others, please visit our reports page.