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Hennepin Co. Attorney touts youth crime diversion data
New data shared by the Hennepin County Attorney's Office and the University of Minnesota shows what they say is a positive trend in youth crime diversion programs. FOX 9's Bill Keller has the latest report.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Hennepin County Attorney's Office presented juvenile crime data that it says demonstrates the effectiveness of early intervention programs.
Hennepin County court youth crime data
By the numbers:
Research data shared by the University of Minnesota and the Hennepin County Attorney's Office show youth offenders who are kept out of courts are less likely to re-offend.
Officials say out of the 127 juvenile offenders who attended early intervention services last year, less than a third re-offended.
The data presented by authorities also showed 58% fewer cases of teens stealing cars since Hennepin County started its youth auto theft initiative.
Research conducted by the University of Minnesota also supports the effectiveness of youth diversion programs, authorities say.
What they're saying:
"Improving youth outcomes and improving community safety are inextricably linked," said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. "Because if we have kids, who we rehabilitate, obviously they're not going to keep coming back into the system, they're not going to commit criminal behavior, they are not going to harm other people."
Youth crime response criticism
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Hennepin Co. Attorney Mary Moriarty on criticism she's faced [FULL INTERVIEW]
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty joined FOX 9 All Day live on Sept. 24 to discuss her office's decision to not charge felonies that come from non-public-safety traffic stops. She also responded to criticism from law enforcement in Hennepin County and Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer's comments about her on All Day that he made the day prior.
The backstory:
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has previously been criticized for her handling of juveniles accused of committing violent crimes, including a plea deal offered to a teen convicted for his role in a fatal 2019 carjacking. He was later arrested in 2024 and charged with fleeing police in Eagan.
Another case resulted in the state taking over the prosecution of a murder case that resulted in an 11-year sentence for the teen shooter.
Moriarty announced in August that she will not seek a second term in office, saying that she wants to focus on making a difference with the time she has remaining in her current term.
The other side:
FOX 9 has reached out to the Minneapolis Police Department for a response and will update this story if one is received.
The Source: This story uses information gathered from a presentation from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office and previous FOX 9 reporting.