Olmsted County officials oppose Minnesota sentencing changes

Olmsted County law enforcement and judicial officials are expressing opposition to proposed changes by the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission regarding a practice known as ‘Hernandizing’.

Supported by a 1981 Minnesota Supreme Court ruling, ‘Hernandizing’ allows judges to sentence offenders for multiple convictions simultaneously while increasing their criminal history score for each conviction. The Minnesota County Attorneys Association, including Olmsted County Attorney Michael Walters, argues that ending this practice could result in more lenient treatment for defendants with multiple convictions if their cases are resolved in a single proceeding.

Sheriff Kevin Torgerson also voiced concerns regarding the potential impact of these changes on sentencing outcomes for repeat offenders.