Origins & Mission
Minnesota's Conviction Review Unit (CRU) was established in 2021 as part of the Attorney General’s Office through a partnership with the Innocence Project of Minnesota, backed by a $300,000 federal grant. It’s one of only a few statewide CRUs operating directly from an attorney general’s office in the U.S., with a mission to identify, remedy, and prevent wrongful convictions. Each case reviewed is accompanied by a strong indication of innocence or procedural failure.
The unit is guided by a robust Advisory Board of criminal justice experts, including county attorneys, former judges, law professors, and advocates. It's designed to combine legal insight, policy guidance, and community trust.
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Correcting Decades of Miscarriages
Since its launch, the CRU has reviewed a staggering volume of wrongful conviction applications—1,151 to date, thoroughly investigating a select number of high-impact cases.
Highlighted exoneration and review victories include:
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Thomas Rhodes (1996 case): After serving nearly 25 years for his wife’s death, his murder convictions were vacated due to flawed forensic testimony; he accepted a reduced manslaughter conviction.
Brian Pippitt (2001 murder conviction): In June 2024, the CRU recommended full exoneration. The exhaustive investigation—181 pages with 987 footnotes—revealed that key testimony was recanted and lacked physical evidence. Pippitt’s case marked the CRU’s first recommendation for complete exoneration.
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Edgar Barrientos‑Quintana (2009 conviction): Following a three-year investigation, the CRU uncovered alibi evidence and flaws in eyewitness identification. His conviction was vacated in November 2024.
Oversight, Recognition & Calls for Expansion
An independent external audit by the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice (Feb 2025) lauded the CRU as “a model for how statewide conviction integrity work should be done.” The report praised the CRU’s independence, productivity, and rigorous investigative techniques, and encouraged further expansion of its mission and staffing.
Challenges & Limitations
Despite its successes, the CRU faces notable constraints:
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Chronic underfunding: With limited staffing and resources, the unit has struggled to keep pace with demand—prompting frustration from families waiting for justice.
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Lengthy review timelines: Many families report significant delays, with unclear communication and limited updates, underscoring the need for more transparency and capacity.
Why It Matters for Justice
| Aspect | Impact |
|---|---|
| Accountability | CRU is setting a precedent for state-level review of wrongful convictions. |
| Transparency | Opens the door to understanding systemic failures and the corruption of trust. |
| Reform Potential | The CRU model offers a scalable blueprint for broader nationwide convictions review. |
| Human Cost | Restoring justice in multi-decade imprisonment cases validates the strength of reform. |
Minnesota’s CRU is more than a corrective measure—it's a beacon of how justice systems can evolve. By confronting its own mistakes, providing exoneration, and fostering transparency, the state offers a powerful example of accountability in action.
References
Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. (n.d.). Conviction Review Unit. https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/CRU/
Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. (2020, October 8). Minnesota awarded federal grant to review legal cases for people believed to be innocent. https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2020/10/08_ConvictionReviewUnit.asp
Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. (2021, August 3). First-ever Conviction Review Unit begins accepting applications. https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2021/08/03_CRU.asp
Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. (2024, June 6). Conviction Review Unit recommends first-degree murder conviction be vacated after 23 years. https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2024/06/06_Pippitt.asp
Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. (2024, November 7). Edgar Barrientos-Quintana murder conviction vacated after AGO uncovered evidence of innocence. https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2024/11/07_Barrientos-Quintana.asp
Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. (2025, February 19). External audit praises Attorney General Ellison’s Conviction Review Unit. https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2025/02/19_CRU.asp
Associated Press. (2024, June 6). Minnesota prosecutor seeks to overturn man's 2001 murder conviction. https://apnews.com/article/8d668af2e770db242075b73d2fbc9064
Associated Press. (2023, January 14). Minnesota man's murder conviction vacated in wife's death. https://apnews.com/article/5da636f2f0b73862e016e27170edb776
Associated Press. (2024, November 7). Minnesota man's murder conviction overturned in 2009 case. https://apnews.com/article/846b469a3a8e5fb6a4e92eb4ca8954cb
Mitchell Hamline School of Law. (2024, June 24). Students assist in review of case by AG’s office. https://mitchellhamline.edu/news/2024/06/24/students-assist-in-review-of-case-by-ags-office/
Red Lake Nation News. (2024, June 7). Conviction Review Unit recommends first-degree murder conviction be vacated after 23 years. https://www.redlakenationnews.com/story/2024/06/07/news/conviction-review-unit-recommends-first-degree-murder-conviction-be-vacated-after-23-years/123005.html
Unicorn Riot. (2023, July 6). Limited funds stunt Minnesota’s Conviction Review Unit — Families want expediency. https://unicornriot.ninja/2023/limited-funds-stunt-minnesotas-conviction-review-unit-families-want-expediency/
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