Departing from the Presumptive Guidelines Sentence

A departure from the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines occurs when a judge imposes a sentence that deviates from the presumptive sentence recommended by the guidelines. These guidelines establish a framework for felony sentencing, aiming for consistency and proportionality based on factors like offense severity and criminal history. However, judges can "depart" from these recommendations in cases where substantial and compelling aggravating or mitigating circumstances exist.