local
Hennepin County is now the only unit in Minnesota reviewing claims of wrongful conviction
By Cory Knudsen at KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC)
· July 11, 2026
· 7 min read
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison suspended the state’s Conviction Review Unit (CRU) after the federal government declined to renew the grant that funded most of the program’s work.
RELATED: AG’s office suspending conviction review unit due to federal government not renewing grant
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Key takeaway When 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS requested a copy of the letter, the office said it is not public data.
Why this matters in The Minneapolis
The suspension of the state's Conviction Review Unit leaves a significant gap in Minnesota's justice system, with Hennepin County's Conviction Integrity Unit now shouldering the responsibility alone. This development raises concerns for individuals convicted in other counties, who no longer have access to an independent review of their cases. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty's unit will continue to review cases within the county, but its capacity to take on additional cases from other counties is limited. The lengthy and intensive process of reinvestigating each case, which includes reviewing police reports, forensic reports, and transcripts, and conducting additional interviews and DNA testing, will now be confined to Hennepin County. This disparity in access to conviction integrity review may lead to unequal treatment of individuals across the state, highlighting the need for a comprehensive solution to address wrongful convictions in Minnesota.
About this story
Original reporting by KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) . The Minneapolis surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 11, 2026 ·
Source: KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) ·
Reading time: 7 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison suspended the state’s Conviction Review Unit (CRU) after the federal government declined to renew the grant that funded most of the program’s work.
RELATED: AG’s office suspending conviction review unit due to federal government not renewing grant
Th...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 11, 2026 by KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) and curated for The Minneapolis readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Cory Knudsen at KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC). To learn more about how The Minneapolis selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Minneapolis, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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