Minnesota
Minnesota
Final grade: A-
Exclusion Grade
B
Relevance Grade
A
Due Process Grade
B
Strengths
- Boards may only use directly related crimes and must consider evidence of rehabilitation.
- Bans boards from using arrest and expunged records as well as vague, arbitrary standards like “moral turpitude” and “good character.”
Areas of Improvement
- Strengthen safeguards for due process by placing the burden of proof on the state.
- Extend state’s protections to teaching licenses and school districts.
Updated June 2022
Thanks to a reform enacted in 2022, Minnesota now has some of the best laws in the nation.
Exclusion
| Overarching ban on blanket bans | Yes, but excludes teaching licenses and school districts |
| Ban on considering arrest records | Yes |
| Ban on considering post-conviction relief records | Yes, annulled and expunged records |
| Time limit | No limit |
| Ban on vague, discretionary character standards | Yes |
Relevance
| Relationship between the crime and the license sought | "Directly relate" |
| Required factors for consideration | |
| Rehabilitation | Yes |
| Time elapsed since crime was committed | Yes |
| Age when crime was committed | Yes |
| Employment History | No |
| Testimonials | Yes |
Due Process
| Petition Process | Yes |
| Burden of Proof | Standard unspecified. Applicants bear the burden of proof to “show competent evidence of sufficient rehabilitation” |
| Right to appeal | Yes |
| Written notice requirement | Yes |