Hennepin County Public Safety Facility

13 photos · 2020–2023

13 photographs tagged Hennepin County Public Safety Facility, 2020–2023.

Inmates in windows of Downtown Minneapolis county jail — Inmates inside the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility, also known as the Hennepin County Jail, look down on a protest occurring below in Downtown Minneapolis. This facility, which serves as the primary detention center for Hennepin County, is situated adjacent to the historic Minneapolis City Hall. During the protest, individuals gathered outside, playing music and advocating for the release of those incarcerated.

Protesters demand release of other protesters — Protesters gather outside the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility in Downtown Minneapolis. The gathering seeks the release of individuals arrested during a downtown Minneapolis march earlier in the evening. Completed in 1982, the facility houses the Hennepin County Jail and serves as a central hub for public safety operations in the county.

Hennepin County Sheriff Officers Outside County Jail — Hennepin County Sheriff's Officers stand guard outside the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility in downtown Minneapolis. This complex houses the Hennepin County Jail and other public safety operations, serving as a central point for the county's justice system. Officers were deployed as protesters gathered following arrests made during a march in solidarity with Jacob Blake.

Hennepin County Sheriff Officer guards jail outside — A Hennepin County Sheriff's Officer stands outside the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility in downtown Minneapolis. This occured during a march seeking justice for Jacob Blake.

Police officers surround county jail in Downtown Minneapolis — Hennepin County Sheriff's Officers and other law enforcement personnel stand guard outside the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility in downtown Minneapolis. This complex serves as a central hub for the county's justice system, including the Hennepin County Jail. The officers were deployed during a protest that occurred after several individuals were arrested following a large march downtown. This march was held in solidarity with Jacob Blake, highlighting ongoing public concerns regarding law enforcement actions and civil rights.

Broken windows at county jail in Downtown Minneapolis — The main entrance of the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility in downtown Minneapolis displays damage to its glass doors. This facility, which includes the Hennepin County Jail, serves as a central hub for the county's public safety and justice operations.

Armed police on top of Minneapolis Jail — Hennepin County Sheriff's Officers stand guard on the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility in downtown Minneapolis. This occurred during a protest in August 2020, following the arrest of a dozen individuals after a large march in solidarity with Jacob Blake. Completed in 1982, the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility houses the Hennepin County Jail and other public safety operations for the county.

Police offficers in riot gear coming out of garage doors — Hennepin County Sheriff's officers, some equipped with riot gear and holding cans of irritants, stand inside the garage of the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility in downtown Minneapolis. Their deployment was in response to a protest gathering outside the facility, where individuals demanded the release of those arrested earlier. The protest was part of a Jacob Blake solidarity march through downtown Minneapolis, reflecting broader unrest. The Hennepin County Public Safety Facility functions as a primary jail for the county, serving as a central point for law enforcement operations and public demonstrations concerning justice.

Inmate support pizza at Downtown Minneapolis jail — Pizza boxes, some with slices remaining, are seen outside the Hennepin County Jail in downtown Minneapolis in August 2020. These provisions were supplied by "jail support" for protesters who had gathered at the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility. The protest demanded the release of individuals arrested earlier that evening, following a march in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. A handwritten note on one box, "ONLY TOUCH YOUR SLICE," indicates a practical instruction for sharing food during the event.

Hennepin County Public Safety Facility in downtown Minneapolis barricaded at night with graffiti on a street sign. — The Hennepin County Public Safety Facility in downtown Minneapolis is shown at night behind metal barricades, traffic barrels, and stacked crowd-control fencing. Plywood covers the building’s ground-level windows and doors, and graffiti reading “fuck MPD” is written on the back of a street sign in the foreground. The county complex houses jail and court functions, and the security measures visible here were in place in September 2020 after protests in the area.

Hennepin County Public Safety Facility in Minneapolis behind fencing and concrete barriers — The Hennepin County Public Safety Facility in Downtown Minneapolis, which houses the county jail, is shown with security fencing and concrete barriers. These measures were installed in anticipation of the Derek Chauvin murder trial in 2021, reflecting heightened security concerns in the city following the murder of George Floyd. On May 25, 2020, Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin murdered 46-year-old George Floyd during an arrest outside Cup Foods at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in south Minneapolis. Video recorded by bystanders showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes while Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe. Three other Minneapolis police officers - J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao — were also present during the arrest and later faced criminal charges for their roles in Floyd’s death. Floyd’s murder sparked protests and civil unrest across Minneapolis and around the world, leading to widespread demonstrations against police violence, major policy debates on policing, and the conviction of Chauvin on murder and manslaughter charges in 2021.

Hennepin Public Safety Building in April 2023 — The Hennepin County Public Safety Facility in Downtown Minneapolis, photographed in April 2023, is a central hub for county law enforcement and judicial operations. The building houses the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, the county jail, and court facilities, serving as a critical component of the justice system for the region.

New fencing up around the Hennepin County Jail — Permanent fencing is being installed around the Hennepin County Jail, a facility within the Public Safety Center in Downtown Minneapolis.

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