Clean Slate Act-related Records Expungements Underway

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has expunged (sealed) more than 75,000 records in the state's Criminal History System (CHS) following Minnesota Judicial Branch review in compliance with the Clean Slate Act, under MN Statute 609A.015.

These records now appear in the Clean Slate Expungement Report, a by-agency list of Clean Slate Act-expunged records in CHS. The report serves as notice to your agency that expungement relief was granted.

The work on approximately 2 million additional qualifying records is underway. Those approved for expungement – both past and future records – will be added to the Clean Slate Expungement Report as expungements occur.

How does the Clean Slate Act affect local agency records?

The Clean Slate Act requires automatic expungement (sealing) of certain records from a person's BCA criminal history that in the past would require the person to petition the court for an order expunging the record. Local agencies are not required to expunge records within their own systems. However, agencies should refer to the Clean Slate Expungement Report in CHS prior to releasing any records to ensure records contained in the report are not released.

It is important to review the Clean Slate Expungement Report because the report contains all levels of offenses that have been expunged, including petty misdemeanor and misdemeanor records that are not available through running a CHS report.  

Because these expungements apply to both prior and future records, agencies should now begin including a check of the Clean Slate Expungement Report in CHS as part of your data practices processes on an ongoing basis.

Training available

Training on how to access the Clean Slate Expungement Report in CHS is available on the BCA Launch Pad within the NexTEST training library.

Additionally, a new Expungement Manual for law enforcement leaders, city attorneys, and staff covering Minnesota Criminal Expungement matters was recently published by Richard Hodsdon, general counsel for the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association (MSA). MSA also plans to offer quarterly training in 2026, with the first training session scheduled for Jan. 27.

Questions?

Questions can be directed to Jill Oliveira, public information officer, Minnesota Department of Public Safety at 651-793-2726 or jill.oliveira@state.mn.us.

Stay Safe,

Tracy

Cybersecurity Pitfalls for Police Officers on Mobile Devices

Guest post by Christian Torkelson, LMCIT cybersecurity loss control field consultant, and Garrett Johnson, LMCIT loss control consultant

Police work is fast, demanding, and always on the move. Mobile phones and tablets make it easier to stay connected in the field, but with convenience comes risk. Hackers know officers are busy, rely on email and file sharing, and trust each other. That makes law enforcement a tempting target. Here are some common cybersecurity pitfalls to watch for.

1. Rushed Decisions on Email and Messages

The fast pace of calls and reports leaves little time to study every email or text. Attackers count on this. They send messages that look urgent or official, hoping you’ll click a bad link or download an infected file without thinking twice.

Tip: Slow down before clicking. Even a 10-second pause to check the details can save hours of cleanup later.

2. Small Screens Hide Big Details

Most mobile email apps only display the sender’s name by default, not the full email address. Hackers can type any name they want, such as “Chief Johnson” or “Court Admin.” Unless you click on the name to expand it, you won’t see the real sender address.

Tip: Always expand and check the full address before trusting an email. Don’t assume the displayed name is genuine.

3. Collecting Evidence on Personal Phones

Phones are sometimes used to take photos, record videos, or send sensitive information. But if this happens on a personal device, the evidence is at risk. Pictures, attachments, and sensitive messages may sit in your inbox or photo roll long after you forget about them. If your phone is lost, stolen, or hacked, that evidence can be exposed. Likewise, any evidence retained in your email inbox could easily become a data breach if your email or Microsoft account was compromised. 

Tip: Lock down your device with strong passcodes or biometrics. Follow department policy for where and how evidence is stored. Clear sensitive material from your phone and email as soon as it’s properly uploaded or secured.

4. Trust Can Be Exploited

Police departments are close-knit, and officers often need to send each other information both within and across departments. Hackers know this. If one officer’s email account is hacked, the attacker often sends messages to everyone in their contact list. Because the emails come from a trusted colleague, others may open them without hesitation. This can lead to rolling attacks that spread across officers and departments.

Tip: If you ever suspect your account has been hacked, report it immediately. And if you receive an odd message from a fellow officer, verify it’s really them before responding.

Final Word

Your phone is a powerful tool, but also a target. By staying alert to these pitfalls, you can protect yourself, your colleagues, and your community. Cybersecurity doesn’t mean slowing down the job. It means taking small, smart steps to keep control of the tools you rely on every day.

New Minnesota Law Enforcement Accreditation Program Seeks to Enhance Professionalism

Recent legislation across the nation and calls for police reform have made law enforcement accreditation a hot topic of conversation. An accreditation program is designed to help law enforcement agencies implement effective practices, improve outcomes, and promote safer communities by promoting excellence in policing through the adoption of standards that reflect state and national professional best practices.  

Minnesota joins other states in developing its own accreditation program

Each state may have its own unique accreditation program, with standards and processes tailored to its specific needs and context. Examples include the New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, and the Ohio Collaborative Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. 

The Minnesota Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (MNLEAP) is a new voluntary initiative designed to recognize and improve the quality of law enforcement agencies by ensuring they meet specific standards and best practices. The program aims to enhance professionalism, public confidence, improved internal practices, and the overall effectiveness of law enforcement across the state.  

MNLEAP standards are consistent with the requirements of Minnesota POST, which operates under the authority of Minnesota Statutes and Administrative Rules. The MNLEAP Standards Manual details a variety of obtainable law enforcement best practices and functions, including administrative, personnel, operations, investigative, and arrestee or prisoner. 

Accreditation determined by MNLEAP Commission

The process of achieving Minnesota accreditation is outlined in the Accreditation Process Manual, which explains how an agency conducts a comprehensive self-assessment by reviewing their policies, procedures, training, and operations against the established accreditation standards. Those operations are then reviewed to ensure compliance with the established standards, after which a decision to grant accreditation is made by the MNLEAP Commission, which oversees the accreditation standards and provides guidance to law enforcement agencies across the state. If the law enforcement agency meets the standards, it is awarded accreditation and must also undergo a periodic re-accreditation assessment to ensure ongoing compliance. 

Jen Wolf, deputy administrator for the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust, currently serves on the MNLEAP Commission.  

Grants available to cover accreditation costs

Obtaining accreditation may seem cost prohibitive for some agencies, but grants are available to fund help cover the costs:

• The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association offers financial assistance to assist small agencies with the accreditation process.  
• A federal grant for the Community Policing Accreditation Program is available through the U.S. DOJ COPS Office. The deadline for the 2025 grant period closed in June, but information about the next grant period will be posted on the website when it is available. 

Related materials

The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association offers several materials related to MNLEAP, including: 

• Welcome & Question Guide 
• Agency application 
• Sample letter of intent 
• Fee schedule 
• Announcement/communication templates to share updates with city leaders and council members, and to highlight your agency’s progress on social media or in the news  

If you have any questions on the MNLEAP process, contact Accreditation Specialist Josh Potts at the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association at 763-516-0153 or josh@mnchiefs.org.  

I am also available to answer any questions or address any concerns. I can be contacted at 763-232-5328 or tstille@lmc.org.

Stay Safe!

Tracy