Hennepin County is launching a new crime diversion screening model to curb crime among young offenders.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty says starting December 1, the program will evaluate youth right away for diversion.
"And what we can do to help children and young people get out of the system, or not come in again and again, this is what we need to do," Moriarty described.
She says data from a multi-year University of Minnesota study shows the diversion program had the lowest rate of kids re-offending. That study analyzed more than 21,000 cases submitted to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office between 2016 and 2023.
Charges like murder, aggravated robbery, domestic violence, carjacking, and firearm offenses won't qualify for diversion, however.
"The data shows that when we do divert young people, they are quite successful," Moriarty adds. "And so the more successful they are, the less they will come back into the system."
The county is also working with new providers focused on community based culturally specific programs.
Minneapolis has been dealing with a rash of crimes committed by juveniles, although many of those are the types that are not eligible for diversion including murder, robbery and carjacking.