Safe Spaces

About the Program

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

Year: 2023

The Safe Spaces initiative is a trauma-informed and victim-centered response to human trafficking and domestic violence in county buildings. Safe Spaces launched on October 3rd, 2022, during Domestic Violence Awareness month. The goal of the initiative is to create "safe spaces" where domestic abuse/human trafficking victims, regardless of their diverse backgrounds, can get immediate and long-term help via connection to county resources such as the Domestic Abuse Center. Often the bathroom in a public building is the only safe space for victims of domestic abuse or human trafficking. This pilot program targeted four of the county’s busiest buildings including the Hennepin County Government Center and Hennepin County Central Library. County security staff, working with community partners like No Wrong Door and survivor groups, implemented two solutions, including one-way emergency phones and signage in four languages with tear-off slips that could be handed to any county employee. Security communicated broadly about the pilot project and provided training to over 1000 county employees, so any county staff who received the tear-off slip would be prepared to respond. In just the first four months of the pilot, the Security Division received seventeen human trafficking and domestic violence calls and was able to respectfully and safely connect those victims with Hennepin County resources.