Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Violating protection order could mean burglary charge

Supporters of a bill want to make it clearer that an order for protection means a perpetrator needs to stay away from the victim.

Sponsored by Rep. Debra Hilstrom (DFL-Brooklyn Center), HF199 would amend the state’s first-degree burglary statute to include entering a building without consent in violation of an order for protection.

The bill was held over Wednesday by the House Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee for possible omnibus bill inclusion. A companion, SF240, sponsored by Sen. Chris Eaton (DFL-Brooklyn Center), awaits action by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Unless we get some stiff penalties for these people, it’s going to continue,” said Rep. Brian Johnson (R-Cambridge).

Hilstrom said the bill is in response to State v. Colvin, where the state Supreme Court in 2002 said a defendant’s violation of a no-entry provision of an order for protection was insufficient to establish first-degree burglary without the intent or commission of a crime other than violating the protection order.

“First-degree burglary is the crime that people used to use in Minnesota, and in some places still do, when someone breaks into a residence when there’s a no-contact order,” Hilstrom said. “When someone is breaking into your home to say, ‘I can still get you,’ it was always previously charged as a burglary.”

Paul Young, division chief for violent crime in the Anoka County Attorney’s Office, spoke in support of the bill.

“It doesn’t mean they all have to go to prison, but it gives us a lot more sentencing options and longer probationary period if they don’t go to prison to try to manage the conduct and provide a longer period of safety for the victim.”

Under the Colvin ruling, Young said a first-time OFP violator can only be charged with a misdemeanor. “That is not at all what we think can provide the most safety for a victim. … We know that if they assault the victim or steal something those are burglaries, and those are easier cases because case law is very clear, but sometimes just being there, just scaring the victim, just sending that message to the victim that ‘I’m going to get in,’ is horrifying.” 


Related Articles


Priority Dailies

House passes tax package that includes rebate checks, $1 billion in new revenues
Rep. Aisha Gomez and House Majority Leader Jamie Long talk during a break in the May 20 debate on HF1938, the tax finance and policy bill. (Photo by Catherine Davis) Is it the largest tax cut in Minnesota history? Or the biggest tax hike the state has ever experienced? Could it be both? That’s the crux of the debate about the conference ...
House passes finalized cannabis legalization bill, sends it to Senate
A supporter of cannabis legalization demonstrates in front of the Capitol in 2021. The House repassed a bill to legalize recreational cannabis, as amended in conference committee, May 18 and sent HF100 to the Senate. (House Photography file photo) The House gave the green light to adult-use recreational cannabis Thursday. “The day has finally arrived. Today is the day that we are going to vote here in the House for th...

Minnesota House on Twitter