As a criminal defense attorney practicing throughout Minnesota’s 87 counties, I keep a close watch on developments that may impact my clients. This week, two seemingly unrelated news stories caught my attention, each highlighting a different, yet equally important, facet of our state’s justice system. In Mankato, officials broke ground on a new, state-of-the-art Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) crime lab. At the same time, news broke that former St. Paul Saints player and baseball legend Darryl Strawberry had received a presidential pardon for past federal crimes. What does a new building in southern Minnesota and a famous athlete’s second chance have to do with the average Minnesotan? If you ever find yourself on the wrong side of a DWI allegation, the answer is: everything.
The new BCA facility in Mankato represents a significant investment by the state in its law enforcement and prosecutorial capabilities. The BCA is the agency responsible for analyzing critical evidence in criminal cases across Minnesota, including the blood and urine samples taken in DWI investigations. When an officer suspects you are driving under the influence and you submit to a blood or urine chemical test, that sample is sent to a BCA lab for analysis. The resulting report, which states your blood alcohol concentration (BAC), presence of controlled substances; presence of THC, become a cornerstone of the prosecution’s case against you.
On the surface, a new, modern lab sounds like a positive development. Officials will undoubtedly praise its potential for faster turnaround times and more advanced scientific techniques. However, from a defense perspective, a new facility raises a host of critical questions that must be addressed to ensure your rights are protected. New technology is not automatically reliable technology. Any new equipment for analyzing blood samples must undergo rigorous validation and testing to prove its accuracy. The lab technicians who operate this equipment must receive comprehensive training on the new protocols. We must ask: Will these new machines be properly calibrated and maintained? Will the chain of custody procedures for handling evidence be strengthened or will faster processing lead to careless mistakes?
Scientific evidence can feel intimidating and infallible to a jury, but it is a product of human processes and machine limitations. My job is to scrutinize every step of that process. A new lab doesn’t get a free pass. We will continue to challenge the methods, the training, and the results that come out of Mankato, just as we have with every other BCA facility. For anyone facing a DWI, it is a stark reminder that the state is constantly upgrading its tools, and your defense must be equally sophisticated and vigilant.
While the BCA lab represents the machinery of justice, Darryl Strawberry’s story speaks to its human consequences. His journey from baseball superstardom to struggles with addiction and legal trouble is well-documented. His pardon represents forgiveness and the opportunity for a clean slate. While a presidential pardon is an extraordinary remedy reserved for federal offenses, it highlights a concept that is deeply relevant to anyone with a Minnesota criminal record: the possibility of a second chance.
A DWI conviction in Minnesota can have consequences that last far longer than the initial court sentence. It can lead to difficulties in finding employment, securing housing, obtaining professional licenses, and can carry a significant social stigma. The feeling that a past mistake will follow you forever is a heavy burden. Strawberry’s pardon is a powerful symbol of moving beyond that past. For everyday Minnesotans, the legal path to achieving a similar outcome is typically through an expungement. While not the same as a pardon, an expungement seals a criminal record from public view, allowing individuals to legally state that they were not convicted of the crime. It is a critical legal tool that allows people to rebuild their lives and careers without being perpetually defined by a single mistake.
These two stories—one about a new lab and the other about a new lease on life—show the full spectrum of the criminal justice system. It is a system of science and procedure, but it is also a system that deals with people, their mistakes, and their futures. Whether you are challenging the technical evidence in a DWI case or seeking to clear your record years later, navigating this system requires skilled legal guidance. Protecting your rights against the state’s powerful resources and fighting for your future are the pillars of a strong defense.
Sources:
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/11/03/bureau-of-criminal-apprehension-hq-mankato-groundbreaking
The information presented in this article is not considered legal advice. Please contact our law office to speak to an attorney about your case.