Public Notice Detail

MINNEAPOLIS (Sept. 29, 2000) – Today Hennepin County Chief Judge Kevin S. Burke announced two new major initiatives for the Fourth Judicial District.

“In July, Hennepin County judges announced their intent to focus more than ever before on the needs of children and families,” said Judge Burke.  “Today’s announcement is an important step toward that goal.” 

“Creating a new court to deal with domestic violence and shifting our judicial resources from civil to juvenile cases are two areas where we believe the courts can really have a positive impact on the children and families in our community,” he added.

Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton applauded the courts’ efforts.  “There are few forces more damaging to society than neglect, maltreatment and violence within our families,“ said Mayor Sayles Belton.  “Whether it’s children, spouses or partners, the reverberations are felt for generations, inside our courtrooms and out.  These new initiatives are important ingredients in achieving better outcomes for the community.”

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT

The first initiative, a new domestic violence court, is slated to begin this November in Courtroom 1159 at the Hennepin County Government Center.  The court was designed in collaboration with the City Attorney’s Office and the Family Violence Coordinating Council to handle all domestic crimes from arraignment to sentencing, including assault, violation of protection orders, interference with 911 calls, violation of conditional release, temporary orders for protection and arrests and detentions.  Currently, domestic crimes are handled in a variety of areas throughout the court system.

One important benefit of the case consolidation is that it will reduce the number of times a victim must tell his/her story of abuse.  In addition, handling all domestic crimes in one court is streamlined to process a higher volume of cases more quickly and effectively. Hennepin County judges will expedite these cases on the same timeframe that was recently set for DWI cases, meaning trials will be held within 45 days of arraignment.  By creating a court that deals exclusively with domestic crimes, judges hope to intervene more quickly in the lives of victims and offenders while linking them to needed resources that may help address underlying issues, such as chemical dependency.

CIVIL TO CHIPS TIME TRANSFER

The second initiative will begin in January 2001 and will transfer approximately one year’s worth of judge time from civil cases to Juvenile Court.  Every judge in Hennepin County will pitch in by handling a regular rotation of detention cases in Juvenile Court.  This move will allow six of the existing Juvenile Court judges to devote more of their time to children in need of protection, or “CHIPS” cases.  Children who have been designated as “CHIPS” are alleged to have been abused and neglected.

CHIPS cases represent one of the highest areas of growth in caseload for Hennepin County.  In the last five years, judges have seen dependency and neglect cases increase by 49 percent, to nearly 1,400 cases per year.  In that same timeframe, termination of parental rights cases have increased by 48 percent.  Compounding the caseload issue, federal and state timelines for processing CHIPS cases and moving children into permanent homes have shortened significantly in a nationwide effort to keep abused and neglected children from languishing in the foster care system.   

Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen A. Blatz praised Hennepin County’s leadership on the two initiatives and cited the new focus on child protection as a critical step in the right direction.  “It is a sad fact that our maltreated children are much more likely to become juvenile delinquents and later, adult criminals,” said Chief Justice Blatz.  “Commitments like the one Hennepin County judges have made help break this cycle when we first have the chance and give our neediest children greater opportunities for success.”

Today’s announcement is the second in a series of initiatives for Hennepin County’s courts to focus more on the needs of children and families.  A plan to expedite DWI cases was announced and implemented in June.