Minnesota Attorney General’s Office Conviction Review Unit

The Minnesota Attorney General's Office Conviction Review Unit is an investigatory branch that considers claims of innocence. The purpose of the unit is to ensure that all cases handled by the Minnesota Attorney General's office result in justice. More specifically, they establish the credibility of claims of innocence filed with the court through fair and unbiased evaluations of all claims. This includes a review of evidentiary proof provided by the petitioner. Eligible evidence must be new to the case and not previously considered by the court. Individuals may also provide information on how new technology allows for more comprehensive testing of evidence presented during the initial trial. The Conviction Review Unit only considers cases involving currently incarcerated individuals. While the primary focus is on claims of innocence, staff will review petitions that make other claims of wrongful conviction or demonstrate evidence of unnecessarily harsh sentencing. For more information, individuals may contact the unit directly or through a defense attorney.