Trespass procedures

Hennepin County is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all individuals accessing county properties.

The Hennepin County Security Division monitors county spaces and ensures safe and secure environments.

While Hennepin County Security strives to maintain an open and welcoming space, there are circumstances where individuals may be excluded from county properties for specific periods due to disruptive, disorderly, or threatening behavior.

Purpose of trespass notices

Trespass notices are issued only when necessary to protect the safety and security of employees, visitors, and residents or to prevent disruption of county services.

The goal is for individuals to return to county property after the notice expires and to ensure the behavior that led to the notice does not recur.

Security will assess each situation on a case-by-case basis and ensure trespass notices are issued fairly and only when necessary.

Authority to issue trespass notices

As a property owner, Hennepin County has the right to deny entry to government buildings to individuals, so long as such denials are enforced in a manner consistent with the public’s rights under Minnesota law and the U.S. Constitution.

Hennepin County Security issues trespass notices to give members of the public fair warning of their exclusion from a county building.

Minnesota Statute § 609.605 states it is a misdemeanor to trespass on county property after receiving a trespass notice. 

Before issuing a trespass notice, Hennepin County Security will attempt to de-escalate situations and notify individuals of any violations to give them an opportunity to correct their behavior.

In cases where the behavior poses an immediate threat to safety, a trespass notice may be issued without warning.

Length of trespass notices

Trespass notices may vary in length depending on the severity of the behavior, as follows: 

1 day: Issued for minor disruptions affecting county business or employees. 

• Examples: Engaging others with offensive language or epithets or inappropriate conduct after receiving a warning to stop the conduct. 

14 days: Issued when an individual’s behavior disrupts county business, affecting others. 

• Examples: Continued non-compliance with Security Officer direction, excessive noise, or other similar disruptive actions after being informed of the violation. 

30 days: Issued for intentional behavior causing significant disruption of county services. 

• Examples: Verbal altercations or other conduct requiring heightened intervention by Security Officers.

90 days: Issued for significant disruption of county services that may constitute a petty misdemeanor or misdemeanor.

• Examples: Physical altercations causing physical harm to others, illegal drug possession.

180 days: Issued for conduct that violates city criminal ordinances or statutes, potentially constituting a misdemeanor.

• Examples: Theft, threats of violence, damage to property, illegal drug use, or other similar disruptive behaviors. 

365 days: Issued for severe conduct that could constitute that could constitute a gross misdemeanor or felony.

• Examples: Drug sales, repeated significant violations, assaults of county staff or others, or other felony-level offenses. 

Process for issuing trespass notices

When Security Officers observe behavior that could result in a trespass notice, the following steps may generally be taken:

1. De-escalation efforts Security Officers will attempt to address and resolve the behavior through communication and de-escalation. Hennepin County Security will offer resources as needed.
2. Notification Individuals will be verbally informed of the violation and given the opportunity to stop the behavior.
3. Issuance If the behavior continues or poses an immediate threat to safety, a trespass notice will be issued.

Right to contest a trespass notice

Individuals who have been issued a trespass notice have the right to contest the notice.

To do so, they may submit their appeal via mail or email using the contact information provided on the trespass notice slip.

Hennepin County Security Division
Hennepin County Government Center
300 South Sixth Street, MC 228
Minneapolis, MN 55487

securityinfo@hennepin.us

The appeal will be reviewed and responded to within 10 business days upon receipt.

Special conditions for accessing county services

In some cases, individuals who have been issued a trespass notice may need to access the same county property to receive essential county services. 

Security Officers will discuss this possibility with the excluded individual at the time the trespass notice is issued, when possible. In order to access the property while a trespass order is active, an individual must:

1. Call ahead - Contact Hennepin County Security at 612-348-5111 prior to coming onto Hennepin County property.
2. Receive an escort - Security will provide an escort for the individual while they are on Hennepin County property to receive services.