Conviction Review Unit
Coverage of Conviction Review Unit in the Nexus archive.
- Hennepin County is now the only unit in Minnesota reviewing claims of wrongful conviction
Minnesota's state Conviction Review Unit (CRU) was suspended after the federal government stopped funding it, leaving Hennepin County's Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) as the only entity in the state reviewing claims of wrongful conviction. The shutdown affects about 160 incarcerated individuals seeking review, but Hennepin County can only process cases originating from its jurisdiction.
- AG’s office suspending conviction review unit due to federal government not renewing grant
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced the suspension of the Conviction Review Unit (CRU) after the federal government refused to renew its grant. The office cited budget constraints as the reason, noting that financial limitations prevent maintaining the program without compromising other responsibilities. The CRU, which reviewed potential wrongful convictions, had been funded by a federal grant awarded to The Great North Innocence Project.