Monday, November 07, 2011 

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman told the county commissioners in his budget message that his office has creatively used a tight budget to focus on sex offenders, gun crimes, career criminals and mortgage fraud cases.

“These focused efforts, directed at the persons and crimes that most negatively affect our society, reflect our determination to work smart and concentrate our energies in the most critical areas,” he told the Hennepin County Board on Nov. 2.

Specifically, Freeman highlighted several initiatives, including:

• Using a relatively new law to seek life sentences for “certain dangerous and repeat sex offenders;” 
• Working with Minneapolis Police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to crack down on gun violence and felons illegally processing guns;
• Using the Minnesota Career Offender Act to put repeat burglars and other property crime defendants in prison for longer than normal sentences; and
• Redeploying budgeted money to put away more than 60 defendants in mortgage fraud cases.

In addition, the office’s civil division has developed strong relationships with all of the Hennepin County departments for which it provides legal advice and representation, such as taxpayer services, the Hennepin County Medical Center and environmental services.

Freeman also noted projects the office has undertaken to prevent crime, such as be@school, and a new effort to work on children who are in both the child protection department, because of problem homes, and in the juvenile delinquency system because they are committing delinquent acts.

“In case it’s not obvious, I am very proud of my colleagues who make up the finest public law office in the state. I am excited about the future.”

Watch the Budget Presentation