ST PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota judges now have the ability to levy serious sentences for those convicted of carjacking, after a state commission voted to rank the crime higher on the sentencing grid.
On Thursday, the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission voted 5-2 to increase carjacking to severity level 9, making it a more serious offense than robbery. The recommended range for someone convicted of carjacking is now between 74 and 158 months (6 to 13 years) in prison, while the recommended term for someone convicted of aggravated robbery is currently 41 to 129 months.
During the 2023 legislative session, lawmakers voted to establish carjacking as its own distinct offense due to the uptick in crime statistics. Republicans had long sought a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years for carjackers, but the omnibus public safety bill passed by the DFL majority set no minimum sentence for the new crime. It set a maximum sentence of 20 years for 1st Degree Carjacking offenses.
Conservatives argue carjacking should be treated more seriously than traditional aggravated robbery, with punishment that takes into consideration the chaos and mayhem carjackers often create after gaining control of the vehicle. They say the new law may allow for better law enforcement tracking of carjacking as a separate crime, but without increased penalties does nothing to dissuade would-be jackers.
The sentencing panel is comprised of several judges, a prosecutor, a police officer, a public defender, a probation officer, a victims' advocate, the state corrections commissioner and members of the public.
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