 The Sheriff’s Office hosted a press conference announcing the addition of a policy regarding religious head coverings for inmates. Absent a threat to safety and security, individuals in custody are allowed to wear a religious head covering while incarcerated at the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility. Religious head coverings can include but are not limited to: a yarmulke, hijab, and kufi.
“This is an opportunity to be proactive rather than reactive,” said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek. “I am extremely proud of our current efforts to recognize the religious rights and beliefs of all inmates; the addition of this policy enhances our efforts to be more culturally aware.”
HCSO’s religious head covering policy adheres to the constitutional and federal requirements of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). As a result of discussions with the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), and subject matter experts on religion and corrections, HCSO has enacted a policy that was the first of its kind in the state of Minnesota.
 The Sheriff’s Office, Know the Truth, and Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge hosted a community education event to discuss preventing substance abuse among teens. The event took place at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis. Parents learned how to set clear rules for their kids, how to use effective prevention strategies, and how to identify signs of substance abuse. Experts also provided information about drug trends such as heroin and prescription pill abuse.
Prescription painkillers are gateway drugs to heroin – since both types of drugs are opiates. The number of heroin overdose deaths during the first two months of 2014 is already a concern. Through February of this year, there have been nine people who died from heroin overdoses in Hennepin County. Last year, 56 people in the county died from heroin overdose, which was the highest number of deaths ever recorded due to heroin.
What: Learn how to spot the signs of possible human sex trafficking and what to do when this activity is encountered
When/Where: Wednesday, April 23 11:30am-12:30pm, Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau
Monday, May 5 10:00-11:00am, Minneapolis Hilton, 1001 Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis
Thursday, June 26 11:00-12 noon, Minneapolis Marriott Southwest, 5801 Opus Parkway, Minnetonka
To Register: (there is no registration fee) Contact Grace Hertel, 651-925-4018 or grace@hospitalitymn.com
 The Sheriff's Office Promotions and Awards Ceremony will take place on April 28th at 6:30 at the Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park. Sheriff Stanek will present awards to personnel for outstanding service to public safety and recognize personnel for recent promotions. |
