Notes from City Attorney Lois Conroy
SAFEZONE PROSECUTION PROGRAM
In 2000, City Attorney Jay Heffern initiated a new, innovative approach to crime-fighting: Six-pronged Prosecution Strategy: community prosecution. This approach is based on a closer working relationship between prosecutor, police and community where crime is occurring. Today, each police department precinct has its own community attorney. Lois Conroy is the First Precinct Community Attorney and implements the SafeZone Prosecution Program. This program takes a strategic approach to aggressively prosecute livability crimes and chronic offenders who impact the vitality of the central business district. The SafeZone Prosecution Plan is a six-pronged approach:
1. Targeted Prosecution
Identify those defendants who have a significant impact upon the Downtown community. Significance is evaluated by:
- Criminal History;
- Location;
- Type of Crime;
- Impact Upon the Community; and,
- Degree of Value Brought to the Matter through Targeted Prosecution.
2. Geographic Restrictions
Determine if the defendant has a pattern of criminal conduct within the SafeZone that supports a motion for a geographical restriction . There are cases in which a single behavioral incident may constitute sufficient grounds for geographic restriction.
3. Impact Statements
- Solicit impact statements from the community on how the defendant and/or the crime impacted those who live, work and play in the Downtown community.
- Present impact statements to the Court.
4. Supplemental Evidence
Obtain supplementary prosecution evidence, such as:
- SafeZone video;
- Private security video;
- Photos;
- Damages estimates;
- 911 calls; and,
- Incident reports.
5. Proportionate Plea Negotiations
Offer a disposition that is proportionate to the harm that the defendant has inflicted on the community.
6. Court Watch
Report the status and outcome of the crime to the SafeZone Collaborative.
Created and Coordinated by:
Lois Regnier Conroy, Assistant City Attorney
First Precinct Community Attorney
(612) 673-5701
Bookmarks
City of Minneapolis--Attorney
City of Minneapolis--Attorney Criminal Division
Hennepin County Court Calendar
