NCJ Number
59304
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
WITH THE CLOSING OF THE MINNESOTA RESTITUTION CENTER IN 1976 DUE TO LACK OF SUFFICIENT RESIDENTS, THE FOCUS ON RESTITUTION WITHIN THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS CHANGED.
Abstract
THE NUMBER OF RESTITUTION PROGRAM STAFF WAS REDUCED AND THE RESPONSIBILITY CHANGED FROM ONE OF DEVELOPING RESTITUTION AGREEMENTS AND SUPERVISING OFFENDERS ON PAROLE TO ONE OF DEVELOPING RESTITUTION AGREEMENTS WITH RESONSIBILITY FOR PAROLE SUPERVISION LEFT TO THE ASSIGNED PAROLE OFFICER. THE OFFENDER POPULATION ELIGIBLE FOR THE RESTITUTION PROGRAM EXPANDED FROM PROPERTY OFFENDERS IN A SEVEN-COUNTY METROPOLITAN AREA TO PROPERTY OFFENDERS IN STATE PRISONS OR REFORMATORIES ANYWHERE IN MINNESOTA. THE VICTIM-OFFENDER INVOLVEMENT IN REACHING RESTITUTION AGREEMENTS WAS DROPPED, AND INMATES WHO DEVELOPED AGREEMENTS IN COOPERATION WITH PROGRAM STAFF NOW ARE RELEASED ON CONVENTIONAL PAROLE. IN ADDITION TO THESE PROGRAM CHANGES, THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT FORMED A RESTITUTION UNIT TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A CLEARINGHOUSE OF RESTITUTION LITERATURE, TO UNDERTAKE RESTITUTION RESEARCH, AND TO TRAIN AND LEND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT INTERESTED IN RESTITUTION. THE UNIT ALSO COORDINATES RESTITUTION PROGRAMS STATEWIDE. THE MINNESOTA CORRECTIONS BOARD ADOPTED A MATRIX SYSTEM DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE INCONSISTENCIES IN PAROLING DECISIONS AND THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT BEGAN A PILOT PROGRAM TO ASSIST MINIMUM SECURITY PRISONERS WITH THE PROCESS OF COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION AND TO ENABLE OFFENDERS TO PAY RESTITUTION DEBTS BY EMPLOYING THEM AS CONSERVATION WORKERS ON STATE-CONTROLLED PROJECTS. (MJW)