Tuesday night community members in Hennepin County came together to voice concerns around the continuing issues of juvenile crime in the twin cities. This listening session is one of a series of such meetings as twin cities communities are grappling with the issues of increased juvenile offenses. Law Enforcement is targeting juvenile crime through Operation Safe Summer, with emphasis on...
As summer continues full steam ahead, so does theft from vehicles. According to the Eden Prairie Police Department, every summer there is an uptick in the number of thefts from vehicles in areas such as parks, stores, gyms, and tourist attractions. To help prevent your valuables from being stolen, be sure to follow any of these three steps: lock it,...
The twin cities have been trending in the right direction regarding violent crime year over year. So far in 2023 there have been 33% fewer homicides, and 37% fewer gun shot victims, and a reduction in carjackings by 45% compared to 2022. Law enforcement agencies in the Twin Cities hope to continue that trend as Operation Safe Summer 2 kicks...
The Juvenile Justice System covers children under the age of 18 in Minnesota. Unlike adult courts, juvenile proceedings are civil proceedings so that the child is protected from the consequences of his or her own conduct. The goal of the Juvenile Justice System is to help children develop responsibility for their unlawful behavior and rehabilitate them. The state statute that...
If your child has been charged with a criminal offense in juvenile court, there can be a lot to worry about. While criminal charges are enough to deal with alone, there may be additional ramifications from public access to criminal records. If a 16 or 17-year-old juvenile offender is charged with a felony offense, court proceedings are public, and the...
If your Halloween plans include pulling what you consider to be a harmless prank, you may be unintentionally damaging property. Even if you simply intended to pull a prank, the Law is only concerned with whether the property was damaged. Criminal damage to property is a general intent crime, meaning that it is irrelevant whether you intended property damage while...
Yes. The police can question children without parental permission. Children can be questioned about something they may have witnessed or their involvement in criminal activity. However, no one, neither adults nor children, can be forced to speak with the police. Just as adults can decline to speak with police, so can children. And if a child requests a parent, lawyer,...
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) conducts background studies on individuals before they can provide any direct contact services or, in the case of nursing homes or boarding care homes, before they can access residents and their belongings. This applies to facilities licensed by DHS, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Department of Corrections (for programs serving youth and children), and non-licensed personal care provider organizations. The background study is thorough and includes criminal history from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and records from county adult and child protection services, DHS, and MDH.
Summer is upon us which means the kids are off school for a couple of months. It also means that many youth are spending more time at the mall, on the streets and in the shops. If your youth has gotten himself or herself in trouble over the school holidays and is facing a juvenile conviction, it is a smart...