Committee adopts author's amendment and lays over bill strengthening penalties for introducing contraband into jails

The House Public Safety Committee adopted an author's amendment and laid over House File 327, a bill that would increase penalties for introducing contraband — including illicit drugs and weapons — into correctional facilities.

Representative Engin, the bill’s sponsor, told the panel that illicit drugs have been entering correctional facilities through the mail and other means, exposing corrections staff and inmates. Engin said the bill would elevate certain contraband offenses from gross misdemeanors to felonies to strengthen deterrence and accountability.

Sheriff Brad Wise, speaking for the Minnesota Sheriffs Association, told the committee the increased penalties are “a necessary step to hold offenders accountable and provide stronger deterrents.” Commissioner Paul Snell of the Department of Corrections said DOC already has a statute — Minn. Stat. § 243.55 — that creates a 10‑year felony for bringing controlled substances, weapons or explosives into DOC facilities, and that DOC has taken operational steps (including contracting to screen mail) that have reduced suspected intoxication incidents by roughly two thirds.

Members raised concerns about the bill’s breadth and possible overlap with existing DOC law. Representative Lehi Muller noted that Minn. Stat. § 243.55 already criminalizes introduction of certain contraband to DOC facilities and suggested refining language to avoid lowering penalties for DOC cases (the bill’s felony term would be two years whereas DOC statute provides up to 10 years for some offenses). Representative Mueller and others asked the sponsor to narrow certain definitions so that day-to-day, low-level exchange of permitted prescription medication among people in custody would not become a felony.

The committee adopted the sponsor’s DE1 amendment (technical clarifications drafted with House research) and considered, then withdrew, an A2 amendment that would have incorporated a separate bill on continuity of medications. Representative Curran withdrew A2 after discussion. Representative Engin closed by urging stronger penalties to deter mail-based and outside conspiracies to introduce dangerous substances. House File 3 27 as amended was laid over for possible further amendment and reconciliation with DOC statute.

Ending: Committee staff and the sponsor will work with DOC and members to refine statutory definitions and reconcile HF 327 with existing Minn. Stat. § 243.55 before returning the bill to committee.