Hennepin County Red Flag Orders Rise With Early Intervention
Hennepin County red flag orders are increasing as officials pair ERPOs with wider mental health access to prevent crises from turning deadly. The county leads Minnesota with 50 ERPO petitions filed in 2025 so far, nearly double 2024’s 29, averaging five to six per month. County Attorney Mary Moriarty formed a dedicated ERPO team: Rena Alexander supports law enforcement cases and Bridget Liverca guides family filed petitions, including for domestic violence survivors. Minnesota law allows emergency ERPOs up to 14 days and full ERPOs up to one year. With 530 gun deaths statewide in 2023 — 70 percent suicides and 27 percent homicides — officials emphasize early intervention, civil commitment options, and coordinated crisis resources.
Extreme Risk Protection Orders, also known as ‘Red Flag’ orders, remove guns from people in crisis while the county pursues early mental health interventions. Hennepin County officials are highlighting a growing use of such orders (ERPOs) and expanded mental health access in an effort to prevent gun violence and intervene in crises before they escalate.
Hennepin currently leads Minnesota in ERPO implementation, with 50 petitions filed in 2025, nearly double the 29 filed in all of 2024. Officials report an average of five to six filings per month.
“Everytown USA reached out to me and said, ‘Would you like some help in implementing your red flag law?’” said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, recalling early discussions with gun violence prevention activists. “At that point, we realized we were in over our heads. It was brand new to law enforcement, and to our office.”
Moriarty assembled a specialized ERPO team to help families and law enforcement navigate the process. Rena Alexander focuses on law enforcement cases, while Bridget Liverca handles cases filed by private individuals, including domestic violence survivors.
“You do not have to be law enforcement to ask for an ERPO,” Moriarty said. “You can be a family or household member, and I know that they’re going to talk to you.” Only seven family-filed petitions have been submitted so far this year.
Alexander, a longtime advocate for domestic violence survivors, said ERPOs are “not about punishing wrongdoing. Rather, they come from a place of care and concern for individuals who are behaving in a way that is frightening either to themselves or others.”
How ERPOs work
Minnesota law allows two types of ERPOs. Emergency ERPOs can be issued without notice when there is immediate danger, lasting up to 14 days unless a hearing occurs sooner. Full ERPOs require notifying the respondent and holding a hearing, and can last up to a year. The Minnesota Department of Health reported 530 gun deaths in 2023, 70% of which were suicides and 27% homicides, underscoring the importance of early intervention.
Mental health investments
The conversation at the forum also focused on mental health. Hennepin County District 4 Commissioner Angela Conley highlighted county investments in behavioral health programs.
Julia Hillel, assistant county attorney and manager of the Adult Services Division, detailed civil commitment, a legal process that orders treatment for individuals at risk of harming themselves or others due to mental illness, chemical dependency, or developmental disabilities.
“Commitments usually last six months, but many individuals receive the help they need sooner and are discharged with case managers to support them,” Hillel said. “Our goal is early intervention, to get people help before a crisis escalates to the point where commitment is necessary.”
Hillel explained that community petitions allow families or concerned individuals to seek help for loved ones reluctant to engage in treatment. She emphasized the importance of collaboration among families, police, hospitals, and community partners, as well as accessible crisis resources such as the HOPE line, family response stabilization services, and behavioral crisis teams.
“We work closely with all system partners to provide a cohesive response,” Hillel said. “Our ultimate goal is to intervene early, educate the community, and connect vulnerable individuals to support effectively.”
For help filing an ERPO, call the Domestic Abuse Service Center at 612-348-5073; for family mental health crises, contact Family Response Stabilization Services at 612-979-9511.
Clint Combs welcomes reader responses at ccombs0284@gmail.com.