Minnesota Sheriffs Association urges more treatment capacity, training funding and statute updates to aid county sheriffs

Sheriff Jason Kammerud, representing the Minnesota Sheriffs Association, told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Jan. 29 that county sheriffs statewide face recurring challenges and the association’s 2025 legislative priorities focus on treatment capacity, training funding and statutory clarifications to improve operations.

Why it matters: Sheriffs oversee jails, court security and investigations at the county level; several items the association seeks — especially secure mental‑health treatment beds and stable training funds — would affect county budgets and jail operations across Minnesota.

Kammerud, sheriff of Carver County and testifying for the Minnesota Sheriffs Association, said county jails are routinely holding people civilly committed to the Commissioner of Human Services far beyond the 48‑hour statutory transfer goal because of statewide capacity constraints. “Today, those who are justice system involved and who have been civilly…