HR11

Purpose

• This resolution condemns extrajudicial summary or arbitrary killings and affirms support for the Minnesota Protocol as a guiding standard. It emphasizes the state's responsibility to pursue justice through fair, prompt, independent, and transparent investigations of suspicious or unlawful deaths, and to protect victims and witnesses.

Main Provisions / What the bill seeks to accomplish

• Condemnation: The House rejects the practice of extrajudicial summary or arbitrary killings.
• Endorsement of the Minnesota Protocol: Recognizes the Minnesota Protocol (the UN Manual on the Effective Prevention of Extralegal Arbitrary and Summary Executions, 1991) and commits to upholding its principles. The Protocol originated in Minnesota and has been updated over time; it is used as a standard by national and international courts and is a tool for investigators and other professionals.
• Investigation standards: Calls for investigations to be thorough, prompt, independent, and transparent, with protections for witnesses and victims.
• Duty to pursue justice: Supports full and fair investigations into suspicious or unlawful deaths, initiated by reasonable allegations or when the state knows or should know that a potentially unlawful death occurred, and a commitment to justice for victims and their families.
• Policy alignment: Encourages elected representatives to adopt policies that reflect the Minnesota Protocol and to address obstacles that hinder reliable investigations and the prevention of extrajudicial killings.

Significant changes to existing law

• None. This is a non-binding House resolution expressing the sense of the House and urging policy alignment with the Minnesota Protocol, rather than creating new statutory requirements or enforcement mechanisms.

Context (briefly relevant for understanding)

• The Minnesota Protocol has been widely used as a legal standard and is a tool for guiding investigations into suspicious and unlawful deaths. It emphasizes justice for victims and families and the need for independent, transparent investigations.

Relevant Terms extrajudicial summary or arbitrary killings, Minnesota Protocol, UN Manual on the Effective Prevention of Extralegal Arbitrary and Summary Executions, 1991, Advocates for Human Rights, Minnesota Protocol origin in Minnesota, investigations of suspicious and unlawful killings, full and fair investigations, promptness, witness protection, victim protection, independence, transparency, duty to pursue justice, policies reflecting the Minnesota Protocol