NCJ Number
86163
Date Published
1981
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The Community Corrections Act enacted in Minnesota in 1973 was evaluated with respect to its effects on correctional costs and the productivity of existing correctional resources.
Abstract
The law was designed to promote efficiency in the delivery of correctional services through grants to aid counties in the development, implementation, and operation of community-based corrections programs. It was assumed that the law could directly reduce correctional costs by reducing overlapping correctional jurisdictions, by consolidating correctional program administration and planning, by reducing the use of State institutions, and by reducing welfare payments to offenders and offenders' dependents. The law was also expected to influence costs or productivity through the use of training to improve labor productivity and through the achievement of increased public safety. The law's effects on public safety was assessed by determining the numbers of offenders who were prevented from committing new felonies as a result of the sanctions and services provided under the law. The law was found to have maintained the same level of public protection while adding to the costs of the system. More resources were needed to generate a successful prevention of a felony under the Community Corrections Act than under previous law. Thus, efficiency was reduced under the Community Corrections Act. Data tables are provided.