Rachel Moran, associate professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, recently spoke with MinnPost about Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) Chief Brian O’Hara and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty publicly grappling with blame for juvenile crime.
Rachel Moran, University of St. Thomas School of Law professor and founder of the school’s Criminal and Juvenile Defense Clinic, said while both O’Hara and Moriarty are accusing each other of inaccuracies, they’re both “not hearing exactly what the other is saying.”
“Chief O’Hara is right that these kids can’t be charged as adults … Mary Moriarty is right that there are other ways that they can be charged with delinquency offenses, and that there are ways to certainly refer the kids for charges, even if they wouldn’t be charged as adults and even if they might not be held with detention,” Moran said. “They’re both kind of at odds with each other over nuances in their language, but I think the ultimate gist of it is they don’t perceive the other as cooperating with their goal.”
Moran said these types of exchanges happen often when a county attorney, labeled as progressive or wants to take a more rehabilitative approach, and police chief have different notions of public safety. And while they appear at odds with each other, violent crime being down overall shows each of their efforts could have merit, she said.