There's been a lot of news recently about public safety in Minneapolis. Here's what you need to know about the state consent decree with the City of Minneapolis (City) and the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). 

1. State consent decree is binding

Minutes after the proposed federal consent decree was abandoned by the U.S. Department of Justice and eventually dismissed by a judge, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights issued a statement stressing that the state consent decree is binding and isn't going anywhere.

The proposed federal consent decree had some unique terms, but many of the terms are duplicative in the existing state consent decree that requires transformational changes to improve public safety and address race-based policing.

Why it matters

The court is the only entity that can terminate the state consent decree. And it can only do so once it determines that the City and MPD have reached full, effective, and sustained compliance with a culture that values humanity, dignity, and civil rights.

The consent decree also requires independent oversight from a monitoring team. 

These elements of the consent decree are why the Minnesota Department of Human Rights has expressed to the City its openness to incorporate unique terms from the proposed federal consent decree into the state consent decree.

2. City has tremendous amount of work ahead

Effective Law Enforcement for All, the independent monitoring team, released their latest progress report detailing the work the City and MPD must complete under the state consent decree. The tremendous amount of work ahead for the City, including MPD, cannot be understated.

Dive deeper

📻 Listen to Commissioner Lucero speak about the consent decree and the City and MPD's progress.

3. Upcoming community events

The Minnesota Department of Human Rights is not hosting or co-hosting the following events but shares these because community members are essential to this work. 

Follow-up Community Engagement Presentation by the MPD Implementation Unit

The Minneapolis Police Department Implementation Unit invites you to a presentation that will provide important updates on MPD policy changes that have been shaped by continued community engagement.

• Date: Tuesday, July 8
• Time: 5:30 p.m. food and refreshments served; 6:00 p.m. community meeting
• Location: Public Service Building
• Address: 505 S. 4th Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55415
• Contact: policepolicyfeedback@minneapolismn.gov

Commitment to Progress: Five Years Later by the Minnesota Justice Research Center

The Minnesota Justice Research Center invites you to "Commitment to Progress: Five Years Later," a community conversation to explore efforts to transform policing in Minnesota since 2020.

• When: Thursday, July 10 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM
• Where: Urban League Twin Cities, 2100 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis, 55411
• Food: Provided
• RSVP: Please RSVP here

Monitoring team's next community meeting

Effective Law Enforcement for All (ELEFA) hosts regular meetings to update community members on the City and MPD's progress on implementing the state consent decree. 

Information about the next community meeting will be posted on ELEFA's website.