Question #1

On June 9, HCSO issued “Administrative Directive 21-02,” which states that HCSO will no longer honor ICE detainer requests, nor will they give notice to ICE when an undocumented person is being released. Sheriff Hutchinson said further: “With the exception of when ICE has a judicial warrant for a person’s arrest, we no longer talk to ICE. That is all in the past. But, we will allow ICE agents into the jail on request.”

If you are elected as Hennepin County Sheriff, will you continue AD 21-02?

Yes.

It is important that we process people for the current crimesthat they are alleged to have committed, it is not fair practices to give notice to ice when an undocumented person is being released.

Question #2

If the County Board developed a separation ordinance barring county agencies under their authority from collaborating with ICE, would you work with them to create a parallel non-cooperation policy within HCSO?

Yes.

I would you work with them to create a parallel non-cooperation policy within HCSO while making we in compliance with the law.

Question #3

Far from isolated incidents, the recent police killings of Breonna Taylor and Minnesota’s own Amir Locke are part of a nation-wide pattern; Taylor and Locke were killed as a result of no-knock warrants, which together with knock-and-announce or “quick-knock” warrants, have enabled the traumatization and killing of people—especially people of color—across the country for far too long.

Would you change Hennepin County’s search warrant policy to stipulate that county law enforcement neither request nor participate in a no-knock warrant of any kind?

Yes.

I think is important to preserve life. It is ok to announce your presence to allow for person to acknowledge your presence.

Question #4

Sheriffs have a uniquely two-pronged authority as both law enforcement officers and overseers of jails, which often includes determining who is diverted from jail rather than booked. This positioning of sheriffs gives them immense power over how many and which people are incarcerated, how people are diverted to alternatives to the criminal justice system, and the expansion or shrinking of their county’s incarceration infrastructure. We believe this power translates to great responsibility—to combat the harms of mass incarceration against BIPOC, poor people, and immigrants, and transform the system that enables them. 

Would you work with the County Attorney’s office to implement deflection and pre-arrest diversion policies for HCSO? How would the HSCO under your leadership honor the responsibility outlined above and work to end mass incarceration?

Yes.

I would work with community and law makers to create law that would allow officer to defer arrest in leu of programs that involve drug addiction (such as programs like PAARIPOLICE ASSISTED ADDICTION RECOVERY INITIATIVE) That shown that it works.