2024 News Archives

Police Are Stopping Fewer Drivers — and It’s Increasing Safety. Despite stiff opposition—particularly from law enforcement, who often argue that such policies constrain their ability to enforce public safety—the movement to change approaches to traffic safety in the United States continued to build momentum in 2023. (Vera Institute, Washington DC, January 11, 2024).

Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation Announces Ramsey County Public Safety Fund. The primary purpose of the Fund is to support Ramsey County’s initiative to reduce non-public safety-related traffic stops. Specifically, funds raised will go to support research, activities related to the creation of needed infrastructure to remotely inform motorists of equipment violations, and financial support to help assist low-income motorists repair vehicle equipment. (Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation, Saint Paul MN, January, 12, 2024).

Transforming Youth Justice Systems to Eliminate Disparities and Better Support Young People. 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA), the nation’s most significant federal policy for improving juvenile justice systems. (Child Trends, Rockville MD, January, 25, 2024).

Task force: Recommendations coming soon to reform controversial ‘48-hour rule’. Lawmakers created the “Priority Admissions Task Force” last year when it voted to temporarily rescind what is known as the “48-hour rule” — a provision that required the state to quickly move people out of jail and into mental health treatment after they are civilly committed by the court. (KSTP-TV, Saint Paul, MN, January, 30, 2024).

How one city took on rising car thefts — and brought the numbers down. Although the smaller Twin City also saw a surge, car thefts there have since fallen dramatically, and local officials say a focus on prevention and youth intervention likely has made the difference. (NPR, Washington DC, February 4, 2024).

Minnesota school, county leaders push for plans to address chronically absent students. Education advocates to urge solutions at the Legislature. Meanwhile, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi has been discussing the topic with local school districts. (Star Tribune, Minneapolis, MN, February 10, 2024).

More than 100 apply for early releases under Minnesota’s new aiding murder statute. The new law is meant to differentiate punishments between major and lesser participants in a killing. One mother says two women involved in her son’s killing shouldn’t have qualified. (Star Tribune, Minneapolis, MN, February 16, 2024).

Man imprisoned for 2008 mother-son slaying as juvenile now eligible for parole after resentencing. An imprisoned man’s long legal fight for a lighter sentence in the 2008 stabbing deaths of a mother and her young son in south Minneapolis has ended with the now-32-year-old resentenced Friday to two concurrent life sentences with the possibility of parole. (Pioneer Press, Saint Paul, MN, February 23, 2024).

The high price to pay when youth skip school. Too many Minnesota students are missing too much time in the classroom. Over 30% of the state’s students were chronically absent in 2021-22, the most recent data available, according to the state Education Department. That means thousands of state kids weren’t getting the education they need. (Albert Lea Tribune, Albert Lea, MN, February 27, 2024).

A wrongful conviction casts doubt on former Ramsey County medical examiner’s methods. It’s not the first time. A new lawsuit adds to questions of whether Dr. Michael McGee used sound science to investigate deaths in Minnesota over a career spanning four decades. (Star Tribune, Minneapolis, MN, March 16, 2024).

Choi co-chairs ABA task force promoting prosecutorial independence. The ABA’s Task Force for Prosecutorial Independence will work to preserve and strengthen prosecutorial independence and enhance the public’s understanding of the prosecutor’s critical role in maintaining the integrity of the criminal justice system, according to the ABA. (Minnesota Lawyer, Minneapolis, MN, March 20, 2024).

St. Paul officer who fatally shot Yia Xiong will not face criminal charges. Officials say use of force was justified in the shooting outside Xiong’s apartment; community members say it deepens mistrust of police. (Sahan Journal, Minneapolis, MN, March 20, 2024).

State lawmakers propose bill in hopes of curbing rash of copper wire thefts. The legislation would require a license and receipt for people selling copper in Minnesota. Copper wire thefts have cost St. Paul millions in repairs. (Star Tribune, Minneapolis, MN, March 27, 2024).

Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN. A mix of policy updates and staffing boosts has helped to put wage theft enforcement on the radar in Minnesota, and officials leading the efforts are prioritizing coordination so potential cases do not fall through the cracks. (Public News Service, Saint Paul, MN, March 28, 2024).

At Capitol, lawmakers strive for child-protection policies that keep African American families intact. Minnesota lawmakers could shake up the system this year to head off out-of-home placements that can cause trauma or otherwise disrupt the family dynamic, under a proposal they’re calling the African American Family Preservation Act. (Minnesota Public radio, Saint Paul, MN, April 16, 2024).

Investing in Children Promotes Public Safety for All. The U.S. criminal legal system has failed effectively to address the unique challenges faced by children and teenagers for decades, devastating countless lives in the process. (Fair and Just Prosecution, New York, NY, May 8, 2024).

Man pleads guilty to double murder in St. Paul sober home. Joseph Sandoval told police in 2022 that voices from the TV told him to kill Jason Murphy and Jon Wentz. (Star Tribune, Minneapolis, MN, May 17, 2024).

Ramsey County declines charges for officer who fatally shot Brandon Keys. The Ramsey County Attorney's Office closed its investigation into a 24-year-old man's shooting death by police, determining the officer's use of deadly force was "legally justified under Minnesota law." (KARE-11, Golden Valley, MN, May, 30, 2024).

Kim Foxx's proposal to not charge felonies from certain traffic stops has had success elsewhere. “It was indeed the most controversial thing that I had done,” said John Choi, the top prosecutor of Ramsey County, which covers St. Paul, Minnesota. (Chicago Tribune, Minneapolis, MN, June 4, 2024).

Ramsey County Attorney calls for more gun safety measures. In 2024 almost 90% of all domestic related deaths in Minnesota involved firearms. (WCCO-Radio, Minneapolis, MN, June 17, 2024).

How to get a free gun lock in Ramsey County: Leaders highlight program amid concerns about suicide, domestic violence, kids and guns. The goal is preventing accidental shootings, suicide and domestic violence, leaders in Ramsey County said at a Monday press conference about the gun locks. (Pioneer Press, Saint Paul, MN, June 18, 2024).

U.S. Supreme Court upholds law that prevents domestic abusers from owning guns. The U.S. Supreme Court Friday upheld a federal law that bars people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from owning a firearm. (Minnesota Reformer, Saint Paul, MN, June, 21, 2024).

Before copper theft law takes effect, Twin Cities residents bear darkened streetlights. The issue has resulted in an new law that takes effect next year that would attempt to regulate the sale and purchase of the metal. But in the meantime, the problem persists. (Star Tribune, Minneapolis, MN, August 18, 2024).

RCAO identifies 7 cases for further review in ex-medical examiner's investigation. The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday the review of former medical examiner Dr. Mike McGee’s work is moving into the final phase as seven cases need additional review. (Fox9, Eden Prairie, MN, September 11, 2024).

Ramsey County narrows probe into former medical examiner to seven cases. After almost three years, Ramsey County prosecutors say they’ve reached the final phase of a sweeping investigation into four decades of criminal cases involving Michael McGee, the former medical examiner whose questionable methods have led to several wrongful convictions. (Star Tribune, Minneapolis, MN, September 11, 2024).

New Ramsey County program releases certain alleged offenders from jail prior to charging. Public officials in Ramsey County have started a new pilot program that will release certain alleged offenders from jail after they have been arrested but before they have been officially charged with a crime. (Alpha News, Minnetonka, MN, September 11, 2024).

7 Ramsey County homicide cases under review amid scrutiny of former medical examiner. Seven homicide cases in Ramsey County are now under review after questions were raised about the testimony of the county’s former medical examiner. (Minnesota Public radio, Saint Paul, MN, September 11, 2024).

Nonfatal shootings usually have a low solve rate. St. Paul police focus on reversing that trend. Ramsey County prosecutors and police are now taking an approach to nonfatal shootings that is similar to domestic violence cases, where victims can also be resistant to provide information to law enforcement: If they have enough other evidence, they move forward with prosecution that isn’t dependent on a victim’s participation. (Pioneer Press, Saint Paul, MN, October 15, 2024).

Protecting children from gun violence. After a toddler was killed in a shooting at a Minneapolis apartment, we were talking gun safety and children on FOX 9 All Day with Ramsey County Attorney John Choi. (Fox9, Eden Prairie, MN, October 11, 2024).

MN Red Flag law, procedures highlighted by Ramsey County authorities. Ramsey County authorities on Thursday spoke to the public about the state's Minnesota's Extreme Risk Protect Order (ERPO) or Red Flag law that gives citizens the tools to obtain a court-ordered firearms surrender in life-threatening situations. (Fox9, Eden Prairie, MN, November 7, 2024).

New 'Red Flag Law' procedures in Ramsey County to remove guns from dangerous individuals. A "red flag law" allows a family member, law enforcement or city official or guardian to petition for an Extreme Risk Protection Order that works to prohibit a person from possessing firearms for up to one year if "the respondent poses a significant danger of bodily harm for other persons or is at significant risk of suicide by possessing a firearm." (KARE-11, Golden Valley, MN, November 7, 2024).

East Coast couple arrested in Minnesota, part of ring that took Lululemon for $1M in thefts. The expansive plot lasted more than two months until their arrests late last week. (Star Tribune, Minneapolis, MN, November 18, 2024).

Ramsey County accepting bids for small treatment homes to serve troubled kids. The Intensive Therapeutic Healing and Treatment Homes will serve youth involved in the justice system and need intense treatment in a secure setting. (KARE-11, Golden Valley, MN, December 3, 2024).

St. Paul officer found legally justified in shooting man who charged at him. Authorities found a cellphone and a bag of meth near the man, who was struck in the arm. (Pioneer Press, Saint Paul, MN, December 20, 2024).