Public Notice Detail
Family Violence Coordinating Council Applauds New Hennepin County Domestic Violence Court
Posted: Monday, November 13, 2000
The Council believes the new court will improve offender accountability by processing cases within 45 days, thus reducing the time between offense and consequence. In addition, increased collaboration between all parts of the system will assist court officials in identifying the most dangerous cases. Victim safety will be enhanced as a direct result of those improvements. The Council anticipates that the new court also will benefit victims because they will be able to access community and government resources in a more streamlined manner.
According to the report, “System Responses to Domestic Abuse: Criminal Misdemeanor Cases in Division I of the Fourth Judicial District,” released today by the Council, Hennepin County should bring all of its domestic violence cases under one court calendar. The new Domestic Violence court will achieve that goal. The report also recommends that the county coordinate victim contacts with the system to minimize the need for multiple restatements of the incident. Furthermore, public safety would be enhanced by creation of a standardized data collection system linking all agencies involved in domestic violence by cases. Other recommendations include expanding crime scene reporting and investigation by patrol officers. The Council is pleased to acknowledge the recent commitment of the Minneapolis Police Department to focus attention and resources on domestic violence cases.
An executive summary or copy of the report is available by request.
The Council was established in 1998 to search for ways to better address family violence in Hennepin County. The Council commissioned the report to produce a clearer picture of how domestic violence cases are processed by the system, from the initial 911 call through completion of criminal sentencing requirements.