Item Description:
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Three Agmts with local agencies to provide adult diversion services to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that the following Agreements with local agencies to provide adult diversion services to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office (HCAO) be approved as follows:
• PR00008906 with Change, Inc, for the period of December 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027 in an amount not to exceed $244,000
• PR00008904 with Diversion Solutions, for the period of January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027 in an amount not to exceed $295,000
• PR00008905 with Legal Rights Center, for the period of December 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027 in an amount not to exceed $93,000; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the total combined funding available for the three contracts listed above shall not exceed $632,000; that the department shall manage the contract expenditures with this funding allocation; that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the Agreements on behalf of the County; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse the funds as directed.
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Background:
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office (HCAO) prosecutes adult felony cases submitted by law enforcement agencies within Hennepin County. HCAO’s approach to these cases focuses on the overall health, safety, and wellbeing of the community. HCAO prioritizes finding a balance between meaningful accountability, treatment for the responsible party, and healing for the harmed party. HCAO centers ensuring holistic community safety by preventing unlawful behavior from happening or escalating and emphasizing interventions that position people for success and reduce the likelihood of further system involvement. A key part of the approach is diversion.
Diversion is a voluntary opportunity for some people who are believed to have committed a chargeable criminal offense. Diversion can help participants avoid deeper involvement with the system and avoid a court record, which can hinder the ability to access employment, education, loans, housing, licenses, permits and many other opportunities. Research suggests that diversion can contribute to overall community-wide safety by reducing re-offense and continued engagement in illegal activity.
HCAO has operated adult pre-charge and post-charge/pre-trial diversion programs for some types of adult crimes for more than 30 years. As HCAO endeavors toward the vision of a safe, equitable, and just Hennepin County, HCAO has continued to explore and implement new evidence-informed diversion approaches, including expanding emerging adult (18-25) and adult (26+) diversion opportunities to incorporate varied points of entry and a spectrum of programmatic responses to ensure an appropriate fit given the person’s needs and the circumstances of the alleged offense.
This year, HCAO issued a Request for Proposals to identify community-based agencies to provide emerging adult and adult diversion services. Following a robust proactive community outreach effort, we received 42 proposals. Hennepin County Purchasing & Contract Services facilitated a comprehensive review of proposals that included feedback from community and system stakeholders, HCAO subject matter expert review, analysis of alignment between program data, needs, and proposer capabilities, and HCAO leadership sign off.
This process resulted in the identification of three providers with whom HCAO wishes to enter contract negotiations. Diversion Solutions, who has provided contracted adult diversion services for HCAO since 2017, would continue to provide diversion services for some adult referrals. Change Inc, a community-based nonprofit social services organization, would provide diversion services for emerging adult referrals and some adult referrals. The Legal Rights Center, a longtime provider of restorative services for HCAO youth diversion, would provide diversion services with a specific focus on restorative practices for some emerging adult and adult referrals.
This request funds services that are: both mandated and core services
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval