MINNEAPOLIS — Starting Monday, prosecutors in Hennepin County will be required to consider race when offering plea deals, according to a new policy from County Attorney Mary Moriarty.
A constitutional law professor warns the policy could be deemed unconstitutional if challenged in court, even if Moriarty’s office intentionally crafted the policy to avoid those legal issues.
KARE 11 News reporter Lou Raguse received a copy of the policy from sources inside Moriarty’s office after it began being distributed this week. The document entitled “Negotiations Policy for Cases Involving Adult Defendants” lays out several considerations for prosecutors to take as they negotiate and offer resolutions to criminal defendants in the form of plea deals, including the race and age of the defendant…