 This past
Thursday we announced the results of a major study regarding mental illness in our
jail. The study showed that approximately half of the inmates would benefit from or are in need
of mental health services while incarcerated in the Hennepin County Jail.
On July 27,
we conducted a One-Day Snapshot Study of all inmates in the jail. Study partners also reviewed other verifiable information for the 680
inmates, including medical histories, public court records, incidents during
previous incarcerations, and county records from County Departments.
The study
showed that 52% of the inmates had confirmed indicators or met other criteria associated
with mental illness. 36% of the inmates had a confirmed mental
health diagnosis or concern in the jail’s intake health assessment, or had
confirmed prescriptions for neuroleptic medications. An additional 16% of the inmates displayed behaviors associated with serious mental illness or
had a significant history connected to mental illness.
We conducted this study to better understand the issues our inmates deal with while
in our custody, and how we can provide the best possible services. The
Sheriff’s Office and other Hennepin County agencies have partnered to identify
several innovations that we hope will provide enhanced services for inmates
who are mentally ill, including the following new initiatives:
- Registered Nurses will conduct 24/7 health
screenings for all inmates during the booking process.
- Housing/Classification decisions for inmates
with mental illness will be based upon acuity levels as determined by Jail
medical staff.
- Inmates will be provided 24 hours’ worth of
medications upon release from the Jail, RN’s from HCMC also will oversee this
service.
- The Sheriff’s Office Court “expediter” works to
ensure inmates are making reasonable progress through court hearings and
evaluations while in custody.
 Want to partner with us to fight crime? All four of the methods below allow you to submit a crime tip anonymously to the Sheriff's Office. We need your tips about drug activity, cold cases, suspicious activity, or general crime.
- Call: 1-888-988-TIPS (8477)
- Text: 847-411, start your text with “HCSOtip” then enter your tip
- App: Search "HCSOtip" to download the app
- Online: www.HennepinSheriff.org then fill-out the form
Do NOT use these tip services if you need an urgent response. In case of emergencies, call 911.
Do you buy
or sell online items from sites like Craig's List? If so, try our Swap Spots
for a safe place to conduct in-person transactions.
Swap Spots
are designated public places where residents may exchange items that they have
purchased/sold online. This allows people to have a public location to make
legal transactions.
Swap Spots
are located in the lobby of three Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office
facilities.
- Sheriff's
Water Patrol, 4141 Shoreline Drive, Spring Park, MN
- Enforcement
Services Division, 9401 83rd Ave. N., Brooklyn Park, MN
- Public
Safety Facility, 401 S. 4th Ave., Minneapolis, MN
Swap Spots
are available during regular business hours of operation: 8am-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, excluding
holidays.
|
