Pre-teen window-smashing suspects will head to Health & Human Services instead of Attorney’s Office

A new Minnesota law is changing what happens when children under 13 are accused of crimes.

Minneapolis police recently detained an 11-year-old and a 12-year-old for smashing car windows. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS asked the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office what will happen next under the new state law.

The law prevents children under 13 from being charged criminally. Instead, they are referred to county health and human services, where support may range from children’s mental health services to child welfare case management.

Sarah Davis oversees the Children and Families Division for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. Davis said she believes the new process still includes accountability for victims and the children involved.

“We think about accountability, about making sure this doesn’t happen, how do we make sure this person is on track and not able to do this again and we’re ...