Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Kari Berman and the reappointment of Reverend Bob Battle, Darci Bentz, Sheriff Steven Borchardt, Jeffrey Edblad, Tracy Jenson, and Constance Larson to the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission. All seven are appointed to four-year terms that expire on January 3, 2011.

Battle, of St. Paul, is the founder and pastor of the Berean Church of God in Christ in St. Paul. He previously served as a liaison for the St. Paul mayor’s office to the chief of police and chaired the St. Paul Human Rights Commission. Battle, who has been a member of the Sentencing Guidelines Commission since 2005, is reappointed as a public member.

Bentz, of Fairmont, is an assistant Fifth Judicial District public defender in Fairmont and previously was the managing attorney of that office. Bentz, who has been a member of the Sentencing Guidelines Commission since 2003, is reappointed as a representative of public defenders.

Berman, of Edina, is an attorney and shareholder in the business litigation section of the Briggs and Morgan law firm in Minneapolis. Previously, she was an attorney in private practice, a resolution attorney for the St. Paul Companies, and a member of the Metropolitan Airports Commission. Berman replaces Michael Williams as a public member.

Borchardt, of Rochester, is the Olmsted County Sheriff. He has chaired the Sentencing Guidelines Commission since his initial appointment in 2003. Borchardt is reappointed as a representative of law enforcement and chair of the commission.

Edblad, of Cambridge, is the Isanti County Attorney. He is also an adjunct faculty with Anoka-Ramsey Community College in Cambridge. Edblad, who has been a member of the Sentencing Guidelines Commission since 2003, is reappointed as a representative of county attorneys.

Jenson, of Stillwater, is a supervisor with Washington County Community Corrections, where he is one of the supervisors of the unit’s adult probation officers. He has previously held probation officer positions in Washington, Hennepin and Anoka counties since 1992. Jenson, who has been a member of the Sentencing Guidelines Commission since 2003, is reappointed as a representative of probation officers.

Larson, of Waseca, is a social worker with the Minnesota Valley Action Council, a community action agency that works with low-income people. She is the mother of Cally Jo Larson, who was sexually assaulted and murdered in 1999. Larson, who has been a member of the Sentencing Guidelines Commission since 2001, is reappointed as a felony crime victim.

The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission develops and maintains rational and consistent sentencing standards which seek to reduce sentencing disparity, increase proportionality in sanctions, and ensure more equitable and uniform sentencing for convicted felons. The commission consists of 11 members, including seven appointed by the Governor.