What does the Jamar Clark grand jury decision mean for Minnesota?

Hennepin County Mike Freeman said Wednesday that from now on his office — not a grand jury — will decide whether to press charges in officer-involved shootings.

Freeman told reporters he'd wrestled with the question as he considered sending the Jamar Clark shooting case to a grand jury. He decided "the accountability and transparency limitations of a grand jury are too high a hurdle to overcome" in cases where police shoot suspects.

Other county attorneys are not sold on the idea.

What does the Hennepin County decision mean for Minnesota going forward? MPR News spoke with Derik Fettig, an assistant teaching professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law former assistant U.S. Attorney in California, on the use of grand juries in police shooting cases.

Use the audio player above to hear the conversation.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.