Democrat Ethan Cha of district 47B (Woodbury) responded to our email proposing 8 bill ideas to improve child rape laws. You can read his full response below, but basically he says current weak punishments for child rape are adequate. We have dozens of stories of child rapist getting away with just probation without prison time on our page. He goes on to say the non-public list of child rapists is okay. Even though MN is just one of three states that don't list all convicted sex offenders. This response of weak on child rape laws is par the course. Democrats in Minnesota think child rapists can be reformed. Despite the fact child rapists have one of the highest rates of recommitting the crime. If you value stronger child rape laws, heavily consider who you vote for.
Thank you for writing and for your advocacy on behalf of children and families. I sincerely appreciate the work that the Washington County Watchdog has done to bring attention to serious crimes and to support meaningful legislative change.
With respect to sentencing, courts have broad discretion, and the Sentencing Guidelines Commission generally approaches sentence increases cautiously. Furthermore, many studies suggest that longer sentences don’t necessarily deter these crimes, which is why there is ongoing debate about whether raising statutory maximums or doubling sentences would meaningfully improve public safety. While a person might think, “this used to be legal and now is a crime, so I won’t do it,” potential criminals do not actually think, “this used to carry a penalty of five years and now it is ten, so I won’t do it.”
Regarding the predatory offender registry (POR), there has been opposition to expanding public access, including from law enforcement. Concerns include increased harassment or vigilantism directed at registrants which could lead to a diversion of police resources and may also put officers in the uncomfortable position of protecting individuals viewed as dangerous. At present, only offenders who are out of compliance with their registration requirements are publicly viewable, while full registry access is limited to law enforcement for investigative purposes.
I deeply appreciate the concerns you have raised, and as both a parent and a lawmaker, I share your desire to ensure Minnesota’s laws protect children as effectively as possible. At the same time, it’s important to acknowledge the practical realities of an evenly divided Legislature, where consensus on major criminal reforms could be challenging. Even so, your input adds a valuable perspective to the broader discussion about how best to improve public safety. Please know that I’ll keep your comments in mind as we head into the upcoming legislative session, which begins on February 17, 2026.
Thanks again for taking the time to share your views and for your continued commitment to protecting our children. Please don’t hesitate to stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Representative Ethan Cha
MAP Caucus Chair
Member of Commerce Finance and Policy, Legacy Finance,
& Legislative Commission Pension/Retirement Committees
