DOJ announces investigation into Hennepin County Attorney's race policy
In a letter shared on the social media platform X on Saturday by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillion, the Department of Justice informs Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty that it is looking into her new policy titled "Negotiations Policy for Cases Involving Adult Defendants." The letter says the policy directs prosecutors to consider racial identity when formulating plea offers.
The letter states the DOJ will include a "comprehensive review of all relevant HCAO policies and practices that may involve the illegal consideration of race in prosecutorial decision-making."
The backstory:
The policy tells prosecutors to consider a defendant's race and age when negotiating plea deals, while simultaneously noting racial identity and age aren't "grounds for departures" from sentencing guidelines.
In an interview with the Star Tribune last week, Moriarty said the policy doesn't intend to treat defendants differently because of race. Instead, it's telling prosecutors to be cognizant of racial disparities and unconcious biases when working on plea deals.
Moriarty also made it clear she feels the policy clearly abides by the constitution
https://www.fox9.com/news/doj-announces-investigation-hennepin-county-attorneys-race-policy
(yes, Fox 9 but I first heard it on WCCO Sunday, not on their webpage)
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She really stepped into this