Frequently Asked Questions

Victims do not file charges; the county attorney does. Therefore, victims do not have the right to drop charges. It is the county attorney’s responsibility to citizens of the state, with information provided by police / investigators, to charge persons who have committed crimes. If a person recants / changes their story, they must notify the police department or Investigator with this new information. Victims may also speak with the Victim Witness Specialist about their feelings and/or wishes for the outcome of the case. The specialist can be reached by calling 763-324-5540.

The county attorney can request that a No Contact Order be issued as a condition of the defendant’s release. Also, in cases of domestic abuse, you can get help in obtaining an Order for Protection through Alexandra House, 763-576-9999. Visit their website for more information. Any violations of these orders should be reported to the police and the probation office immediately.

There are a number of ways to track defendants who may be in custody. You will the need the name of the defendant. A date of birth is also helpful.

• If the defendant is in custody in a state prison, information may be accessed through the Minnesota Department of Corrections website.
• Victim Information Notification Everyday (VINE), is an automated system that will track offenders in most of Minnesota’s county jails. VINE is available by calling 877-MN4-VINE (877-664-8463), or at their website.
• You may also receive a document with sentencing information from your Victim Witness Specialist that will enable you to request that the custodial facility notify you when the defendant is scheduled to be released or furloughed.

There are several resources available for financial assistance. Your victim witness specialist can help you sort out which is best for you. Emergency funds may be available on a limited basis to help with emergencies not covered by insurance or other sources. The State of Minnesota also has funds available to assist victims of crime with medical, dental, psychological, or funeral expenses related to a crime. Call the specialist at 763-324-5540 for more information.

The County Attorney can request that a no contact order be issued as a condition of the defendant’s release. Also, in cases of domestic abuse, you can get help in obtaining an Order for Protection through Alexandra House. Any violations of these orders should be reported to the police and the probation office.

You are required to go through the county. You can start the process by calling pre-petition screening at 763-324-1420. If the person is in the hospital and the person’s doctor believes that a civil commitment is needed, hospital staff will contact pre-petition screening. A team of mental health professionals will screen the case to determine if a commitment petition is appropriate, or if there are other less-restrictive alternatives that will meet the person’s treatment needs. If the pre-petition screening team believes that a commitment petition is appropriate, they will prepare a written report and submit it to the County Attorney’s Office, along with a doctor’s statement supporting the commitment. If the County Attorney’s Office determines that legal criteria are met for filing a petition, a petition will be filed, with the pre-petition screening report and examiner’s statement attached, and the matter will be set on for hearing. The County Attorney’s Office will represent the petitioner in the civil commitment proceeding. A court-appointed attorney will represent the patient.