Prohibit No-Knock Warrants
Bill(s):
Date Created: 3/19/2023
Call to Action:
No-knock warrants can be very dangerous to both the police and the people inside the properties they are served on. They disproportionately impact people of color and the research shows they do not lead to more crimes being solved. Support HF2290/SF2259 to prohibit the use of no-knock warrants.
Description of the issue:
Last February, Minneapolis police shot and killed Amir Locke while they were executing a no-knock warrant on a Minneapolis apartment. No-knock warrants do not require the police to knock and give an occupant a chance to open the door, nor do the police need to announce their presence before forcibly entering. Amir wasn't named on the warrant and he didn't live in the apartment. He was dead 9 seconds after the police entered the apartment. Amir Locke’s death was one of many terrible outcomes of no-knock warrants.
No-knock warrants can be very dangerous for both the police and for people living at the residence. Between 2010-16, at least 94 people in the U.S. were killed as a result of no-knock warrants, including 13 police officers.
No-knock warrants disproportionately impact people of color. Between Sept 2021 and Feb 2022, of the 94 people in MN who had no-knock warrants served on them, 70% of them were Black.
In MN, no-knock warrants have not led to more crimes being solved. In the years leading up to 2020, MPD conducted on average 139 no-knock warrants per year. St. Paul hasn’t served one since 2016. Yet in 2020, MPD solved 37% of their homicide investigations, while St Paul solved 91%.
HF2290/SF2259 would prohibit a court from issuing or approving a no-knock warrant. The House bill has been heard on one committee so far. The Senate version has yet to be heard in committee.
Action:
1. If your state senator is on the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, ask them to hear the bill SF2259 as soon as possible and pass it. Otherwise, contact the committee chair, Senator Latz (651-297-8065, or email) and urge him to hear the bill.
2. Contact your state Representative and Senator and urge them to vote Yes to the bill when it is time for them to vote on it.
Not sure who your state Rep or Senator is? Check here.
Sample Script (voice or email):
Dear …………….,
I am contacting you about the bill HF2290/SF2259 to prohibit no-knock warrants. I urge you to support this bill/give this bill a hearing. In February of this year, Amir Locke was asleep on the couch in an apartment in Mpls when police carrying out a no-knock warrant shot him to death. Amir Locke wasn’t named on the warrant. It wasn’t his apartment. The police shot him 9 seconds after entering. He didn’t stand a chance.
We need to end the use of no-knock warrants in Minnesota. No-knock warrants are dangerous for the police serving them and for the people at the address they are being served at. They are served disproportionately on people of color. 70% of no-knock warrants served in MN at the end of last year were served against Black people. Furthermore, they don’t result in more crimes being solved.
Please do everything you can to make sure that HF2290/SF2259 is passed this session.
More details on the bill:
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17816