Community Engagement Unit

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2020

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office (HCAO) Community Engagement Unit (CEU) builds community partnerships by sharing information and listening to community needs. Raising awareness helps solve crime problems and develops strategies to prevent them. In addition to raising awareness, community engagement allows HCAO staff to meaningfully interact with neighbors, build relationships, and empowers people from different parts of the community to work together. In November of 2018, the HCAO Community Engagement Unit was given a mission to focus on three pillars of community engagement; (1) engagement with criminal justice partners; (2) engagement with residents including communities of color and businesses and; (3) internal staff engagement. In the last 14 months, the CEU attended approximately 120 community safety meetings, and hosted 50 presentations with subjects ranging from Civil Commitment Law to Truancy Law. HCAO collected hundreds of essential items for people experiencing homelessness, survivors of sexual assault, and for children lacking basic needs. These efforts have resulted in connections with hundreds of community members, feedback from residents, and the development of trusting working relationships. With a dedicated team of outreach professionals and an array of events and programming tailored to the diverse neighbors we serve, the CEU reflects HCAO’s deep commitment to being active, involved community partners.