HF 897

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/27/2019 12:58pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; appropriating money to address alternatives to juvenile
detention throughout the state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin ALTERNATIVES TO JUVENILE DETENTION.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Grant. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of public safety through the Office of Justice
Programs may award a grant to an organization designated as a nonprofit by section 501(c)(3)
of the Internal Revenue Code to conduct training, technical support, and peer learning
opportunities for counties across the state interested in "Right on Crime" strategies,
specifically juvenile detention reform and addressing disparities in the juvenile justice
system to accomplish cost-effective interventions that leverage the strength of families and
communities. The organization must have a demonstrated history in working with Minnesota
counties to address disparities in the juvenile justice system. The intent of the grant is to
achieve the following objectives:
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new text begin (1) eliminate the inappropriate or unnecessary use of secure detention;
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new text begin (2) minimize rearrest and failure-to-appear rates pending adjudication;
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new text begin (3) ensure appropriate conditions of confinement in secure facilities; and
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new text begin (4) reduce racial and ethnic disparities.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grant criteria. new text end

new text begin (a) The grant recipient must:
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new text begin (1) identify and support counties statewide in implementing the eight core strategies
identified by the Annie E. Casey Foundation that are proven to address disparities in juvenile
detention including collaboration, use of accurate data, objective admissions criteria and
instruments, new or enhanced nonsecure alternatives to detention, case processing reforms,
special detention cases, reducing racial disparities, and improving conditions of confinement;
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new text begin (2) provide training, technical support, and peer-learning opportunities to counties as
each county implements the eight core strategies under clause (1) throughout its county;
and
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new text begin (3) consistently collect, use, and report accurate data to diagnose system problems, adapt
strategies, and assess the impact of various training and capacity-building activities.
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new text begin (b) A portion of the grant must be designated for counties to implement juvenile detention
reform.
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new text begin (c) The commissioner shall ensure that most of the grant money distributed under this
section be used to benefit greater Minnesota.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Program evaluation. new text end

new text begin The grant recipient must evaluate the effectiveness of
its intervention and work with subcontracted organizations to collect data. The grant recipient
must submit an evaluation plan to the commissioner delineating progress in meeting the
objectives of the grant.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $2,500,000 in fiscal year 2020 and $2,500,000 in fiscal year 2021 are appropriated from
the general fund to the commissioner of public safety for the grant program under section
1.
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