The Hennepin County Jail has until Thursday afternoon to slash nearly 20% of its population, but the sheriff's office says it needs more time to move the nearly 150 inmates.The reduction order from the Minnesota Department of Corrections comes in the wake of the deaths of at least eight inmates either in the jail or after being transported for treatment since 2022,

The Department of Corrections alleges the jail had chronic failures to meet well-being checks and staffing requirements.

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) was ordered to reduce its jail inmate population by noon on Thursday, Nov. 14, after it was served a conditional license order (CLO) from the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC).

An order from the Minnesota Department of Corrections says the inmate population needs to be lowered to under 600.

Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt says she will appeal the order from the Minnesota Department of Corrections because it's impossible to shrink rapidly.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections cited failures by the county to provide adequate well-being checks, in addition to staffing woes inside the jail.

MINNEAPOLIS (KFGO/WCCO) – Hennepin County will pay $3.4 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of a man who died in jail. The suit was brought by Lou Bellamy, the founder of Minneapolis’ renowned Penumbra Theater. It came after his son Lucas died in 2022, allegedly after begging guards to be taken to the hospital.

The Hennepin County Jail has until Thursday afternoon to slash its population size, but the sheriff's office says it needs more time to move dozens of inmates.

A Minnesota Department of Corrections report says the county jail failed to complete mandatory wellness checks and have appropriate staffing on multiple occasions.