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Alongside community and systems leaders, Ramsey County will strategically align its justice system transformation with community values. Past efforts to reform the justice system are complicated by the history of systems reinforcing the status quo as a tool of oppression. Interaction with the public safety system presents a net harm to individuals and their respective communities when criminal records are used to reinforce structural racism by imposing barriers to well-being services, employment opportunities, and housing. Reducing harmful system investments and creating spaces for well-being require a systems transformation in partnership with community where social services and public health interventions are the preferred solution and justice system involvement is only used where diversions are unsuccessful.

This strategic priority demonstrates Ramsey County’s commitment that the most effective method to create safer and healthier communities for all is to increase the well-being of residents who are most impacted by structural barriers, particularly within Black and American Indian communities. It recognizes an accountability for the harm caused to our communities by our current system and takes responsibility for eliminating that harm through structural reinvestment.  

Racial equity and shared power

Localized data clearly demonstrates the growing racial disparities across the public safety system functioning in Ramsey County. From entry to exit, disparities for Black and American Indian populations for youth and adults remain the highest among all racial and ethnic groups. Rates of arrests, conviction, incarceration, probation, revocation, and numerous programmatic and procedural outputs all reflect these disparities, regardless of the reforms undertaken to impact outcomes.    

Aligning the work of Ramsey County with the values of community continues to be a critical priority. In this work, Ramsey County is undertaking the full spectrum of community engagement, offering a wide variety of opportunities to engage as many community members as possible in ways that feel meaningful to them. This includes but is not limited to community members advising county leadership, co-designing initiatives alongside system stakeholders, participating in town halls, and sharing their lived experience. Additionally, Ramsey County will look for ways through procurement and other means to invest money in community-based organizations and Black and American Indian individuals whenever possible to contract for services. 

Strategic priority goals

• Complete full year of Peace Fellowship programming and evaluate outcomes
• Establish a Bail Reform Pretrial Navigator position to connect justice involved individuals to wraparound resources and provide support after arrest
• Implementation of all new 9-1-1 responses through the Appropriate Responses Initiative (ARI)
• Establish Intensely Therapeutic Treatment Homes in Ramsey County to provide treatment and intentional healing for youth who have gone through juvenile court.
• Secure funds from the State and establish a Local Restorative Practice Initiative in Ramsey County.

Actionable strategies

• Develop a communication strategy that ensures community understands the various system transformation efforts happening across Ramsey County and are assured of the county’s commitment to these initiatives.
• Execute contracts with community-based organization to implement Bail Reform Pretrial Navigator and 911 community responses.
• Develop strategy for transforming the system for those who are incompetent to stand trial; hire a data specialist to assist in identifying gaps.
• Hold 6 sessions with the Mental Health Division of Social Services and Adult Probation in Community Corrections to deepen relationships and to create documentation of process mapping.
• Implement a process that enables community participation in decision-making within this strategic priority.  
• Pilot a partnership with the food security team to address issues of food access to people with interaction in the justice system.
• Hire a project manager, execute a contract with community consultants, and partner with a community-based organization to run Intensely Therapeutic Treatment Homes.
• Apply for funding earmarked by the Minnesota State Legislature for restorative practices. Develop a workplan to establish the county’s Local Restorative Practice Initiative.