Stays of Adjudication are a controversial type of probation designed to result in charges being dismissed and an offender receiving no conviction or criminal record.

PROTECT believes that the use of Stays of Adjudication for adults who commit sexual assault and child sexual abuse is a dangerous and unnecessary practice. It might be used for philosophical reasons, if a prosecutor believes that diversion from the criminal justice system is the appropriate outcome. However, it can also be used for expediency’s sake, to secure a plea agreement without investing the time and effort to prove and try a case.

The table below displays data from the Minnesota Judicial Branch (MJB) on stays of adjudications. As this data shows, some counties rely heavily on stays of adjudication, while others use it rarely or not at all. Minnesota’s second largest county, Ramsey (population: 540,653), gave no stays of adjudications. Some smaller counties give stays of adjudication very frequently.

For a human perspective on the impact stays of adjudications have, see the news report, “Minnesota’s Secret Sex Offenders” by KARE-11.

USE OF STAYS OF ADJUDICATION FOR FELONY SEX CRIMES, 2007-2016