County Attorneys and Sheriffs help secure mental health funding

Minnesota Sheriffs and County Attorneys scored a victory this week as funding previously removed from the Human Services Finance Bill was added back for an urgent need for increased beds in the mental health continuum. The two groups held a press conference on June 5 to call for the return of funds that had previously been included in the bill but were removed in backroom negotiations.

The funds are essential to help law enforcement follow the “48-Hour Rule,” which requires inmates who are determined unfit to stand trial to be moved to mental health facilities within 48 hours—a rule that is already difficult to follow, given the lack of beds available.

“One of our inmates was in jail for almost a year,” Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen told WTIP. “There’s been other examples in the state of Minnesota where people have been in jails for over a year waiting for a bed to open up at a secure facility.”

The removal of funds for mental health facilities in the Human Services Finance Bill would have further exacerbated the problem, which is why both Minnesota County Attorneys and Minnesota Sheriffs moved so quickly.  Their efforts seemed to be successful, as the funding was returned to the bill, and it was passed.

“I’ve been doing government work for over 30 years now, and it seems that nothing is ever done that quickly. So it was surprising,” Eliasen said.

While the funds are essential, more beds are still needed. Even with the additional funding in the most recent bill, adhering to the 48-hour rule will still be challenging for law enforcement. While larger offices in the state may have mental health staff working in their jails, smaller jails struggle to provide those in need of mental health services the care they would receive at a proper facility.

Cook County can only hold people for 72 hours before they are transferred to a different jail, but even when they are transferred, Cook County is still responsible for the inmate and getting them to the proper facility.

“I don’t know that the public is aware of, you know, the specific rules that need to be followed and which cannot be followed because the state of Minnesota has not or will not provide the required services and capacity,” Eliasen said.

WTIP spoke with Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen shortly after the Human Services Finance Bill was passed. The audio of that conversation can be found below.

Josh Hinke June 12, 2025