MINNESOTA'S COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS ACT TAKES HOLD - WILL THE EFFORT TO DECENTRALIZE HAVE ANY EFFECT AGAINST CRIME?

• NCJ Number: 45571
• Journal: Corrections Magazine Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 46-54,56
• Author(s): J BLACKMORE
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Criminal Justice Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PILOT PROGRAMS IN SEVERAL MINNESOTA COUNTIES TO PROCESS LOCAL OFFENDERS THROUGH A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONAL ALTERNATIVES ARE DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED.

Abstract

THE 1973 MINNESOTA COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS ACT SHIFTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR CORRECTIONS FROM THE STATE TO THE COUNTIES. AN EXTENSIVE STATE SUBSIDY IS GIVEN TO ANY COUNTY OR GROUP OF COUNTIES THAT CHOOSES TO SET UP ITS OWN COMMUNITY CORRECTION SYSTEM. ONCE THIS CHOICE IS MADE, THE COUNTIES MAY USE STATE CORRECTIONS FACILITIES, BUT FOR EACH LOCAL OFFENDER COMMITTED TO THE STATE, THE PRORATED COST OF STATE CARE IS 'CHARGED BACK' TO THE COUNTIES BY SUBSTRACTING IT FROM THE SUBSIDY. ONLY ADULT OFFENDERS SENTENCED FOR 5 YEARS OF MORE CAN BE SENT TO THE STATE WITHOUT COST. ALL OFFENDERS SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 1 YEAR IN JAIL MAY GO TO STATE PRISONS, IF A SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER NUMBER OF OFFENDERS IS TO BE HANDLED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, JUDGES MUST BE WILLING TO SENTENCE MORE OFFENDERS TO PROBATION OR TO PROBATION COUPLED WITH A SHORT COUNTY JAIL TERM. ONCE A COUNTY HAS DESIGNED ITS PROGRAM, HAD IT APPROVED, AND RECEIVED ITS STATE SUBSIDY, IT IS EXPECTED TO PUT TOGETHER A COMPLETE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM WITH A FULL COMPLEMENT OF SUPPORT SERVICES. THE STRUCTURE MUST BE APPROVED BY THE STATE CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER. IN MOST OF THE COUNTY PROGRAMS, THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE USE OF EXISTING COUNTY FACILITIES. COUNTY JAILS ARE USED FOR OFFENDERS AWAITING TRIAL AND SERVING SHORT TERMS FOR MISDEMEANORS, AS WELL AS FOR FELONS SERVING LONGER TERMS. BECAUSE OF THIS INCREASED USE, COUNTIES ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE JAIL CONDITIONS, PROGRAMS, AND STAFFING. OTHER PROGRAMS ARE BEING DEVELOPED AS WELL, AND THE STATE REQUIRES THAT 5 PERCENT OF A COUNTY'S SUBSIDY BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF RESEARCH AND EVALUATION. AN ANALYSIS OF THE COUNTY PROGRAMS IN EXISTENCE HAS INDICATED A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN STATE COMMITMENTS; COST-EFFECTIVENESS HAS NOT YET BEEN FULLY ASSESSED. (VDA)