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Crime, Law and Justice
MPR News Staff

Minneapolis moves forward on proposal to shift violence prevention programs to the county

Minneapolis City Hall
Clouds pass over Minneapolis City Hall.
Tim Evans for MPR News | 2022

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After a long and sometimes heated discussion Monday afternoon, the Minneapolis City Council agreed to move forward with a controversial proposal to shift around $1.2 million to Hennepin County so that government may temporarily take over the management of two city violence prevention programs. 

Under the proposal, Hennepin County would oversee the city’s Group Violence Intervention and Youth Group Violence Intervention programs until the end of the year. The programs focus a range of social services, mentoring and other resources for people who’ve been most involved in violent activity.

Supporters of the measure say the city’s Neighborhood Safety Department has mismanaged funding for the program, resulting in some vendors not being paid for providing services. 

Minneapolis Public Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette opposes the plan.

“We don’t know what Hennepin County would do with the $1.2 million,” said Barnette. “I don’t know if they will undergo a new RFP process for the vendors. Hennepin County is not accountable to the legal requirements that we are."

A man listens during a press conference
Minneapolis public safety commissioner Toddrick Barnette listens during a behavioral crisis response press conference at Canopy Mental Health in Minneapolis.
Ben Hovland | MPR News 2024

He also said the shift will disrupt the programs. City staff told members of the council that Group Violence Intervention would have to pause as the county develops compatible programming.

However, in a letter to council members, Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley and County Attorney Mary Moriarty said they welcomed the opportunity to work with the city to combat violence. And they said the county already administers youth group violence intervention programs in Minneapolis. 

Council member Robin Wonsley said the county has the capacity to manage the city’s violence intervention efforts.

“So as in the letter that they sent us, they will be able to get these programs up and going, I believe, pretty quickly and without disruption,” she said.

The council’s committee voted narrowly, 7-5 to forward the proposal to the next full council meeting scheduled for Thursday without recommendation.