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The budget shortfalls limit the ability of the <br />courts to process cases pertaining to <br />shoplifting, trespassing, worthless checks, <br />traffic and ordinance violations, juvenile <br />truancy, runaways and underage drinking, <br />consumer credit disputes, property -related <br />and small civil claims, and many other <br />cases. Timely processing of these cases is <br />critical to keeping communities safe and to <br />preserving the quality of life residents <br />expect. <br />The State Court Administrator has <br />advocated for statutory changes that have <br />resulted in efficiencies and cost savings <br />while preserving core services. These <br />changes involve consolidating services <br />where practicable and using technology to <br />reduce costs. They include centralized <br />payable processing, use of e-citations and <br />restructuring of state mandated programs. <br />Response: The League of Minnesota <br />Cities supports a statement by former <br />Chief Justice Eric J. Magnuson that calls <br />for "an adequately funded, functioning <br />justice system that resolves disputes <br />promptly in order to ensure the rule of <br />law, protect public safety and individual <br />rights and promote a civil society." The <br />League supports the use of technology to <br />reduce costs and preserve services. The <br />League opposes any changes that would <br />decriminalize local ordinances, petty <br />misdemeanors or misdemeanor offenses, <br />or that would make prosecution of these <br />crimes more difficult. <br />SD-41.21St Century Policing <br />Issue: Published in May 2015, the <br />President's Task Force on 21st Century <br />Policing Report makes multiple <br />recommendations aimed at helping law <br />enforcement agencies and communities <br />strengthen trust and collaboration, while <br />reducing crime by implementing the next <br />phase of community -focused policing. The <br />report contains recommendations related to <br />six key areas of law enforcement: <br />1. Building Trust and Legitimacy; <br />2. Policy and Oversight; <br />3. Technology and Social Media; <br />4. Community Policing and Crime <br />Reduction; <br />5. Training and Education; and <br />6. Officer Safety and Wellness. <br />Many Minnesota communities have <br />embraced 21st Century Policing concepts, <br />and municipal police depatttnents <br />throughout the state have adopted policies <br />that align with 21st Century Policing <br />principles. <br />In Minnesota, police chiefs have indicated <br />strong interest in securing additional training <br />in 21st Century Policing practices for <br />officers. Demand for training has increased <br />in recent years, and in 2017 the Legislature <br />responded by increasing continuing <br />education requirements for officers, <br />expanding the scope of this training to <br />include more community policing, and by <br />providing $6 million per year over the next 4 <br />years for training reimbursement provided <br />by the Peace Officer Standards and Training <br />(POST) Board. This funding is not <br />permanent and sunsets after the four-year <br />period. <br />The POST Board is funded through a special <br />revenue account from a surcharge on <br />criminal and traffic convictions. However, a <br />significant amount of the special revenues <br />collected are diverted to the state's general <br />fund and are not made available for training <br />reimbursement, and the amount of the <br />surcharge paid to the state has been <br />League of Minnesota Cities <br />2018 City Policies Page 27 <br />