After Court
I want to file an appeal. How can I do that?
How can I find out when a defendant will arrive at prison?
I was the victim in a crime. How can I get the No-Contact Order lifted?
I got a bill from Probation. What is it for and do I have to pay it?
Can I vote if I have a felony on my record?
Can I own or possess a gun even if I have a felony conviction on my record?
I want to file an appeal. How can I do that?
Not every case can be appealed, and appeals involve complicated laws and procedures. You should get legal advice from an attorney about whether you can appeal your case and how to do it. One resource for advice is a brief consult with a volunteer lawyer at the Legal Access Point Clinic at the Self-Help Center. You could also contact the Lawyer Referral & Information Service at the Hennepin County Bar Association at (612) 752-6666. The Court of Appeals Help Topics offer some information on appeal procedures and forms. NOTE: Court staff cannot give people legal advice or tell them what they should do in their case.
How can I find out when a defendant will arrive at prison?
Contact the MN Department of Corrections at (651) 361-7200 to get that information. All male defendants are first sent to St. Cloud Correctional Facility, which is the clearinghouse for paperwork. From St. Cloud, they may be sent to another correctional facility, e.g., Moose Lake, Stillwater, Oak Park Heights, Moose Lake, Faribault, etc. Female defendants are sent to Shakopee Women’s Prison.
I was the victim in a crime. How can I get the No-Contact Order lifted?
One option is to discuss your request with the victim/witness advocate at the prosecutor’s office or with the prosecuting attorney. If the case is finished in court, you could try contacting the Hennepin County Probation Office at (612) 348-6180 to see if lifting the order is an option in this case.
I got a bill from Probation. What is it for and do I have to pay it?
It is common that a defendant who is sentenced to supervised probation is also ordered to pay a correctional service fee. If you have questions about the bill, contact the Hennepin County Probation Office at (612) 348-2110.
Can I vote if I have a felony on my record?
It depends on the level of sentence that was imposed and your custody status. Your criminal record does not affect your right to vote in Minnesota unless you are currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. You can vote if you are not incarcerated, including when you are released on parole, even if you have a criminal record. You can contact your probation officer if you have questions about your conviction status and your right to vote. Read the law at MN Statutes § 201.014. and refer to the Secretary of State website for more specifics about voting with a criminal record.
Can I own or possess a gun even if I have a felony on my record?
When a person is convicted of a felony, he or she loses some civil rights for a while, including the right to own or possess a gun (firearm). The person automatically gets those rights back when they have completed their sentence. But, if a person was convicted of a felony “crime of violence” as described in MN Statutes § 624.713, subd. 5, he or she loses the right to own or possess a gun for life. The only way to get that right back is to file a petition with the court asking for a special order. Read the law at MN Statutes § 609.165. For more information, visit the Government Center Self-Help Center or get help from a lawyer.
How can I find out when a defendant will arrive at prison?
I was the victim in a crime. How can I get the No-Contact Order lifted?
I got a bill from Probation. What is it for and do I have to pay it?
Can I vote if I have a felony on my record?
Can I own or possess a gun even if I have a felony conviction on my record?
I want to file an appeal. How can I do that?
Not every case can be appealed, and appeals involve complicated laws and procedures. You should get legal advice from an attorney about whether you can appeal your case and how to do it. One resource for advice is a brief consult with a volunteer lawyer at the Legal Access Point Clinic at the Self-Help Center. You could also contact the Lawyer Referral & Information Service at the Hennepin County Bar Association at (612) 752-6666. The Court of Appeals Help Topics offer some information on appeal procedures and forms. NOTE: Court staff cannot give people legal advice or tell them what they should do in their case.
How can I find out when a defendant will arrive at prison?
Contact the MN Department of Corrections at (651) 361-7200 to get that information. All male defendants are first sent to St. Cloud Correctional Facility, which is the clearinghouse for paperwork. From St. Cloud, they may be sent to another correctional facility, e.g., Moose Lake, Stillwater, Oak Park Heights, Moose Lake, Faribault, etc. Female defendants are sent to Shakopee Women’s Prison.
I was the victim in a crime. How can I get the No-Contact Order lifted?
One option is to discuss your request with the victim/witness advocate at the prosecutor’s office or with the prosecuting attorney. If the case is finished in court, you could try contacting the Hennepin County Probation Office at (612) 348-6180 to see if lifting the order is an option in this case.
I got a bill from Probation. What is it for and do I have to pay it?
It is common that a defendant who is sentenced to supervised probation is also ordered to pay a correctional service fee. If you have questions about the bill, contact the Hennepin County Probation Office at (612) 348-2110.
Can I vote if I have a felony on my record?
It depends on the level of sentence that was imposed and your custody status. Your criminal record does not affect your right to vote in Minnesota unless you are currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. You can vote if you are not incarcerated, including when you are released on parole, even if you have a criminal record. You can contact your probation officer if you have questions about your conviction status and your right to vote. Read the law at MN Statutes § 201.014. and refer to the Secretary of State website for more specifics about voting with a criminal record.
Can I own or possess a gun even if I have a felony on my record?
When a person is convicted of a felony, he or she loses some civil rights for a while, including the right to own or possess a gun (firearm). The person automatically gets those rights back when they have completed their sentence. But, if a person was convicted of a felony “crime of violence” as described in MN Statutes § 624.713, subd. 5, he or she loses the right to own or possess a gun for life. The only way to get that right back is to file a petition with the court asking for a special order. Read the law at MN Statutes § 609.165. For more information, visit the Government Center Self-Help Center or get help from a lawyer.