Hennepin County Announces Added Protections for Abortion Patients

St. Paul, MN — Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced a new policy that provides protections for abortions in Minnesota. He was joined by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, and United States Senator Tina Smith when announcing that the policy establishes the Hennepin County Attorney's Office will not use its resources to prosecute or assist in the prosecution of any crime related to providing, seeking, or obtaining an abortion. The policy also provides concrete steps for ensuring the immediate release of any individual who has been arrested based on an out-of-state warrant related to abortion. Currently, 17 states have banned abortion, including states bordering Minnesota.

Statement from Ruth Richardson, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood North Central States:

“Abortion care is health care. Abortion is a personal decision between a patient and doctor. It is not political, and no one should go to jail for getting an abortion or providing abortion care. Thank you to the community leaders standing up for patients, doctors, and nurses today, so that Minnesotans and people coming to Minnesota for abortion care know that they will be protected in our state.”

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Planned Parenthood North Central States and its subsidiary organizations provide, promote, and protect reproductive and sexual health through high quality care, education and advocacy. A member of America’s most trusted reproductive health care provider, our affiliate is proud to support and operate 28 health centers across our five-state region (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota). Each year, we provide health care to nearly 115,000 people and health education to more than 99,000 people in our region.