Mike Freeman's 2007 Initiatives for the  
  Hennepin County Attorney's Office
     

Our senior citizens are increasingly preyed upon by violent and white-collar criminals.  Specialized services are needed to address the unique and diverse needs of senior citizens who become victims of crime.  Mike Freeman will insure that the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office provides:

* Comprehensive services in the community to seniors who have been victimized.  Using the collaborative model of the award winning Domestic Abuse Service Center he founded, Mike will build partnerships with law enforcement, prosecutors, victim advocates, community agencies and the courts, to create services designed to protect and serve seniors.
* Special prosecutors to aggressively prosecute crimes against seniors, crimes of violence and white-collar crimes like fraud, theft, and identity theft.
* Special advocates for seniors.  The advocates will assist with everything from reporting crime to providing support services through trial, as well as helping with the paperwork needed to stop identity theft and to repairing credit records.
* Strong connections with government and community agencies to make quick referrals for seniors who need assistance with medical, probate, financial, and other issues.

Anyone can be a victim of identity theft, but it is a particular threat to our senior citizens.  Most victims never reach the County Attorney’s office.  When they do, the prosecutors must be well trained and up-to date on the methods of identity thieves to insure effective prosecution and to prevent others from being victimized.  Identity theft is a consumer problem broader than just criminal prosecution alone.  The victims must be supported as they navigate the confusing, and sometimes overlapping, criminal and civil remedies. Identity theft can wreak havoc on peoples’ lives but there is no government agency specifically responsible to address the problems of identity theft.  Mike Freeman will take the lead.  He will:

* Use the expertise and experience of the White Collar Crime Unit to aggressively prosecute identity theft.
* Increase prosecutions and obtain longer sentences by working with other counties to share information and coordinate cases that involve multiple victims in different jurisdictions.
* Support the efforts of the Hennepin County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee to insure that all county agencies have adequate information sharing systems.
* Offer training to County Attorney staff, law enforcement personnel and elder service providers on how to assist victims of identity theft to clear their credit history and stop harassment from creditors.
* Increase community outreach through community prosecution and educational programs.  Community involvement is critical to both solving and preventing identity theft.

Drug trade and drug use are the cause of most violent and property crime.  The drug problem must be addressed by locating and shutting down the supply sources and providing treatment to drug users who are motivated to stop. 

Methamphetamine (Meth) manufacturing and use are no longer just issues for Greater Minnesota.  They are issues for Hennepin County.  Meth users commit identity theft, fraud, and violent crimes.  They victimize children through child abuse, child neglect, and child pornography.  Meth manufacturers create serious health risks for the children exposed to the toxic chemicals they use, as well as for the first responders called to the scene of Meth labs.  Meth users are difficult to treat; they require a longer, more intensive, and more costly treatment program.  Mike Freeman will:

* Aggressively prosecute Meth crimes and push for sentences that address the unique problems that Meth presents.
* Work with federal, state and local authorities to coordinate and maximize law enforcement efforts.
* Work with government agencies, the medical community, and non-profit organizations to provide adequate treatment options.
* Work with the County Board to lobby federal and state government to address the supply sources.
* Increase community awareness of drug use and issues through community outreach and educational programs.
* Respond aggressively and appropriately to public safety and child welfare issues caused by all illegal drug use.  The emphasis on Meth will not detract from an equally strong push to address the crime problems and ruined lives caused by Crack/Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana, Khat, or “Date Rape” drugs.

Preventing crime before it occurs is a common sense, proactive and cost-effective crime fighting strategy.  Crime prevention was the hallmark of Mike Freeman’s previous administration in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, and will be again.  Children should be safe from predators, and in their own homes.  Children should be supported by their parents, and the community.  Children in need should have access to services in their own community, which are age, gender, and culturally appropriate.  Mike Freeman will:

* Prevent future criminal conduct by focusing on truancy intervention.  The cause of truancy varies; intervention may be needed with the family or with the truant child.  Mike will encourage and assist school officials and police to strictly enforce truancy rules for elementary school students, including holding parents responsible for getting their children ready for school in the morning.  Older students will be held accountable for their behavior through tough sanctions.  Truancy is the biggest predictor of future criminal conduct; we must break the cycle of truancy to succeed in preventing crime.
* Protect children and protect the community by strictly enforcing the curfew ordinance enacted in every Hennepin County community under Mike Freeman’s leadership.
* Insist on the immediate hiring and deployment of the 70 new Minneapolis police officers promised last fall.
* Protect children and prevent crime by breaking the cycle of abuse perpetuated by dangerous sex offenders.  Aggressive Child Abuse Prosecution and Psychopathic Personality Commitment will protect children and the community from repeat offenders.
* Join with other crime prevention fighters to get guns off the streets.     Mike Freeman initiated the first gun collection program in Hennepin County, collecting over 6,000 guns with the assistance of law enforcement, fire departments, and community volunteers.