Attorney General Keith Ellison's Conviction Review Unit (CRU) received commendation from an external audit conducted by the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice. The audit praised the CRU for its effectiveness in reviewing cases relative to its size and for employing impartial, evidence-based investigation methods. This first-of-its-kind audit was requested by the CRU’s Advisory Board to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
Ellison emphasized the importance of ensuring that no innocent person serves time unjustly. "I launched Minnesota’s Conviction Review Unit because no innocent person should serve time for a crime they did not commit," he stated. He expressed pride in the unit's work, which has led to several wrongful convictions being overturned.
The report highlighted that "while prosecutors are motivated to do justice by convicting the right person, and innocence lawyers are motivated to prove their clients’ innocence, the Minnesota CRU is clearly motivated to discover what really happened in cases it reviews and advocate for whatever relief, if any, is appropriate." The report also described the CRU as a “model for how statewide conviction integrity work should be done,” citing its impressive productivity compared to other units.
Charts included in the report showed that since its inception, Minnesota’s CRU has reviewed 1,151 cases and completed five investigations. In contrast, other statewide units combined have reviewed 1,736 cases and completed six investigations.
Assistant Attorney General Carrie Sperling, who directs the Minnesota CRU, expressed gratitude towards Patricia Cummings and the Quattrone Center for their comprehensive review. "As actors in the criminal justice system, we should welcome the opportunity to assess our processes in order improve our outcomes," she said.
Patricia Cummings led this audit with funding from the Quattrone Center based at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Cummings brought extensive experience as a former prosecutor and defense attorney who had previously headed prominent Conviction Integrity Units in Dallas and Philadelphia.
Minnesota’s CRU was established in October 2020 under Attorney General Ellison's office as one of few statewide units operated through an Attorney General’s Office. By August 2021, it began accepting applications from individuals claiming wrongful conviction. Since then, it has successfully recommended vacating several convictions including those of Brian Pippitt and Edgar Barrientos.